SCHENECTADY Israeli’s talk at Union College draws protests from faculty BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
At least 18 Union College faculty members have signed a letter opposing Thursday’s visit by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Union has about 200 faculty members. The talk, which is being sponsored by the Student Forum, is not open to the public. Organizers have said the decision to restrict the event is partially because of security and to make sure as many students can attend as possible. Andy Feffer, associate professor of history, said faculty members are concerned about Olmert’s leadership during Israel’s military offensive into the Gaza Strip in 2006. Israeli offi cials say they were attempting to stop rocket attacks from Hamas. The Israeli Defense Force has been accused by the U.N. Human Rights Commission of committing war crimes during the assault, according to a report by U.N. investigator Richard Goldstone. The Goldstone report cited the Israeli military for a disproportionate number of deaths among civilians. An estimated 1,400 civilians living in Gaza were killed during the campaign. “There were a number of instances where buildings where civilians had taken refuge were destroyed. There were a number of mosques that were destroyed,” Feffer said. Also, the report said there was no evidence that Hamas was hiding weapons in buildings that the Israelis had destroyed. Feffer said hosting Olmert refl ects poorly on the institution. “Giving him a platform to justify his actions is bad for the reputation of Union College and is not conducive for a free exchange of ideas on these issues,” he said. ..................>>>>..................>>>>...................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00101&AppName=1
Professors, above all people, shouldn’t have protested Olmert visit
Re Jan. 13 article, “Israeli’s talk at Union College draws protests from faculty”: We received the sad intelligence that Union College is suffering from “intolerance,” the same virus that has infected and diminished so many American institutions of higher learning. It was reported that Andy Feffer, an associate professor of history, was one of the 18 Union faculty members who had signed a letter of protest against the visit by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The professors were upset that Union College was providing a platform for the Israeli spokesman to justify his country’s behavior. Mr. Feffer based his concerns on a report published by the U.N. Commission on Human Rights which accused Israel of war crimes against the Palestinians on the Gaza Strip. Feffer said that hosting Olmert would damage Union’s reputation. No, Mr. Feffer, it would not. Inviting the prime minister to speak represented a spirit of open-mindedness and encourages the free exchange of ideas — the very essence of what a healthy college is all about. What reflected poorly on Union was not only the intolerance of some of its professors, but the want of intellectual vigor and incredible paucity of understanding when it comes to world politics. It is no secret to any American who takes the time to keep himself informed, that the United Nations is an utterly corrupt organization with an anti-American, anti-Semitic agenda. To cite a United Nations finding as the reason to oppose a visit by the Israeli prime minister is patently absurd! To add insult to injury, the 18 unabashedly closed-minded Union professors also feigned concern for the cost of ensuring Mr. Olmert’s safety while in Schenectady. The fact that American universities have to assume the added expense of providing security for guest speakers is a direct result of the intolerant atmosphere fostered by Feffer and all those progressives like him who encourage ignorance and teach prejudice. Shame on those so-called educators, and hats off to the students who invited Mr. Olmert, and who understand that the mission of a real college is education, not indoctrination!
Logged
