Nov 21, 2007 7:36 pm US/Eastern
Controversial Columbia Prof. Up For Tenure
Resistance To Mainstream Right-Winged Politics Causes Intelectual Firestorm
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Mideast Politics professor Joseph Massad defends his leftist political views in a British documentary available on YouTube. Amidst the external controversy surrounding Columbia University, college officials are still considering the professor for tenure.
CBS
Once again, Columbia University is embroiled in a firestorm of controversy. This time, the controversy is coming from within, over a professor and his views. As CBS 2 reports however, despite the public outcry, University officials may be giving him the ultimate reward, job security for life.
Professor Joseph Massad, of Middle Eastern politics, has adamantly praised Hamas, which the United States considers a terrorist group. He's also a known, searing critic of Israel. While he continues to defend his beliefs, his seemingly extreme left-winged political perspectives aren't enough to dissuade Columbia University against him.
"When I say Israel is racist, I'm referring to it descriptively and I'm not out to insult the country. Israel has a large number of laws that discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish citizens," said Massad.
Critics, however, have expressed their concern over his alleged hot temper with students who ultimately don't agree with him. In 2005, a panel reprimanded Massad for exploding at a student who defended Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. He denied the incident took place.
Now he's up for tenure, which has critics once again charging that Columbia is coddling extremists. These same critics cite how Columbia University recently provided an educational venue and forum for Iranian President Mahmoud Amhadinejad, who has expressed his own personal political distaste with Israel.
"What's outrageous about Professor Massad getting tenure, which is basically a lifelong appointment, is the intense hostility towards students of Jewish origin, to people who think America's greatest ally is the nation of Israel," said Hudson Institute Fellow, Richard Miniter.
Many students have come to his defense, and called the matter an academic freedom issue. These students share the belief that there is a nation wide intent of glorifying the right-wing mentality, which in its essence is the belief that any criticism of U.S. policies abroad, especially in relation to Israel as an ally, is extremist propaganda and should therefore be rejected.
"It reflects, I think, a closed-mindedness on the part of others that think universities only have to propagate mainstream views," said a Columbia University junior, Ram Vangala.
Massad did not return CBS 2's requests for comment. But he defends himself in a British documentary, available on YouTube. "Remember, there's a right-wing effort across America today to silence any criticism of Israel and the US government," said Massad.
The tenure process at Columbia University is enormously secretive. A University spokeswoman would not say when a decision on the professor would be made.
Some local politicians, like Congressman Anthony Weiner, have called for Massad's firing. There was no comment Wednesday from Columbia President Lee Bollinger, who wasn't as quiet when given the opportunity to insultingly introduce Iran's president to the student body and the media on September 24.
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