Politics of Middle East play out in class fracas

[rodeodance]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/chitribts/20050101/ts_chicagotrib/politicsofmiddleeastplayoutinclassfracas&e=5

Politics of Middle East play out in class fracas

Sat, Jan 01, 2005 9:40 AM


By Stevenson Swanson Tribune national correspondent

The Upper West Side of Manhattan may be half a world away from the Middle East, but a bitter war of words has turned the narrow campus of Columbia University into a miniature Gaza Strip (news - web sites), riven by divisions between supporters of the Israeli and Palestinian sides.

Jewish students charge that three professors in the university's Middle East & Jewish Studies department have ridiculed and intimidated them for making pro-Israel remarks, violating their rights as students to express opinions contrary to those of their professors.


The allegations reflect the growing scrutiny that Middle East studies departments across the country are facing from pro-Israel groups that claim Arab or Islamic professors are slanting their courses to favor the Palestinian side, sometimes to the point of challenging Israel's right to exist. .......

For Columbia, however, the controversy goes to the heart of the university ethos--the balance between a professor's right to express unpopular views and a student's right to challenge those views.

[ChiciB1]

1. WOW!!

Civil War, I thought it was on the horizon.... just didn't think it would be THAT Civil War!

Two Civil Wars going on in America at one time, now that takes the cake! Dems against Pukes! Israelies against Palestinians! Holy Cow! Or Holy Something!

[Trillo]

2. Aren't "testing" and "grading" forms of

"intimidation" and "ridicule"?