Columbia U. President Fires Questions at Iranian Leader

NEW YORK — The press release issued by Columbia University introducing speakers for the Annual World Leaders Forum mentioned seven leaders, but made no mention of the man whose invitation and presence yesterday at the university incited widespread protest and demanded the attention of most major media outlets in the country, and in the world — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Many present on campus for the talk yesterday said that the intention of the university in inviting Ahmadinejad to speak was unclear. The ambiguity also brought into question the extent of the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

Bollinger addressed the ambiguity regarding the Columbia’s intention on inviting Ahmadinejad in his first words.