Another Cole Rallies to Defend Anti-Semites at Columbia University

The NY Sun reports that the Columbia University sociologist Jonathan Cole spoke out in New York this week, demanding that Columbia University defend anti-Semitic professors from students complaining about their classroom bias and anti-Semitic comments. Here are parts of the Sun's report:

"Cole, who in a speech on Tuesday night before a restive gathering of professors and students strongly suggested that Mr. Bollinger wasn't doing enough to defend faculty members from accusations that they have intimidated Jewish students....Mr. Cole said in no uncertain terms that Columbia is under attack by what he described as outside political forces. When the content of a professor's views is under attack, Mr. Cole said, 'leaders of research universities must come to the professor's defense.' "

Professors interviewed by The New York Sun acknowledged that Columbia's president has been caught in the crossfire and has sought to balance the concerns of faculty members with those of some trustees, alumni, and donors alarmed over reports from Jewish students about their classroom experiences. The students who have aired complaints claim that some professors in the department of Middle East and Asian Languages and Culture suppress opinion sympathetic of Israel and inappropriately substitute political activism for teaching.

An assistant professor of modern Arab politics, Joseph Massad, is accused of threatening to expel a student from his classroom because she defended Israel's military actions. Mr. Cole on Tuesday night cast Mr. Massad as an exemplary teacher who is under no obligation to give equal weight to student opinions expressed during class. Mr. Cole served as the university's second highest-ranking officer from 1989 to 2002 before returning to research and teaching. As provost, Mr. Cole on numerous occasions came to the defense of Edward Said.

We do not know of this Cole is related to Old Juan Cole, the Dangerous Old Soul, but it would not at all surprise us.