I'm with Dick Greenhaus on this one. Academia should be a bastion of free speech.The real test of free speech is allowing viewpoints that are repugnant to you. Ahmedinejad's views are repugnant to me, but if I was at Columbia, it would be an opportunity to hear him in person, and to possibly pose challenging questions to him (and I hope Columbia is planning Q&A after his talk). Remember, Students and community members in a town in (Utah, I think)) tried to prevent Michael Moore from speaking, arguing that his views were totally repugnant to the community, and that college fees should not go to him for a speaker's fee. Students supporting free speech won the battle, and he gave his speech.

Chanteyranger