Back in January of this year, Kesher Talk wrote of Lisa Anderson:

She is the subject of an article that is part of a series on Columbia University by Campus Watch. The dean of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia, Lisa Anderson puts a lot of effort into promoting the biases of the Middle East Studies Association at her school:

Her most recent achievement was in raising money, almost entirely from Arab sources for an "Edward Said Chair in Middle Eastern Studies." Though Edward Said was neither a scholar or teacher of either Islam, or of the Middle East, but a celebrated polemicist, Anderson found nothing peculiar in naming this chair after him . . . . she managed to raise $4 million, and was instrumental in keeping the sources of that funding secret for as long as possible. Much effort had to be expended to persuade Columbia to reveal those sources, though New York State Law requires such information to be reported when it involves foreign funds.

And finding the perfect occupant for the chair, she held it for him until such time as he, Rashid Khalidi, could extricate himself from the University of Chicago, and arrive to sit on it himself. She gushed that she "can't "honestly think of a better person to recruit to Columbia."

Rashid Khalidi has been exposed as a plagiarist.

A list of the donors to the Edward Said Chair in middle Eastern Studies, solicited and whole or in part by Lisa Anderson.

Anderson's protegee Joseph Massad - one of the professors accused of intimidating students in the "Columbia Unbecoming" film - writes screeds like this and this and is supported by the likes of Juan Cole and Mona Baker. The NYSun reported his antics at a panel on the Middle East:

Read more on Lisa Anderson here...

So, has sanity reached the ivory towers of Columbia University? Let's not make that giant leep so fast. While the president of the university did make the right call, from the article we learn that Lisa Anderson, had independently invited Mr. Ahmadinejad to speak at the World Leader's Forum, a year-long program that aims to unite "renowned intellectuals and cultural icons from many nations to examine global challenges and explore cultural perspectives." The fact that she considers Ahmadinejad either a "renowned intellectual," a "cultural icon," or both, and still has her job - means that there's indeed a long way to go toward actually having sanity at Columbia University. And apparently, the insanity has traveled from the top all the way down to the student level:

A Columbia sophomore who is a reporter for the Columbia Spectator, Mark Holden, said that while he personally does not like Mr. Ahmadinejad, he thought he should have a fair hearing (ed: Golly gee, how's the freedom of the press and speech in Iran). "It's a tough call,"Mr. Holden said."If given the choice to protest for him or against him I certainly would protest against him."

While some readers may disagree with my criticism of the idea of giving Ahmadinejad a "fair hearing" in a "World Leader's Forum" as either a "renowned intellectual," a "cultural icon," or both, a man that has already dribbled ample evidence of his intentions and regard for the United States of America - none of which is very promising for America, much less the planet, I believe that most readers have much more common sense and have spent less time on a psychiatrists couch than those that would support giving Ahmadinejad yet another forum to bash our country and spew anti-semitism.

Other coverage on this story includes that of Captain's Quarters:

Bollinger's cancellation sent a mixed message, even for those who opposed Ahmadinejad's appearance at the university. By resting his objection on the specific forum, Bollinger didn't really take much of a stand on Ahmadinejad at all. Anderson still could have him speak on campus as part of a separate event at another time, a move that will probably mollify those who will see this cancellation as a threat to free debate in academia.

If Columbia's students and faculty believe that, then perhaps they will take the time to discuss freedom of speech in Iran with Ahmadinejad before they extend the next invitation. The Iranian government has begun closing dissident newspapers in the Islamic Republic, Reporters Without Borders announced less than a fortnight ago...

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