Begin forwarded message:
>
>
> Dear Students and Colleagues:
> On Monday, September 24, the Columbia University Department of
> Public Safety will be asking for Columbia-issued photo ID cards at
> the gates to the Morningside campus. In addition, the 114 Street
> gate on Broadway adjacent to Lerner Hall will be closed. The
> President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is
> scheduled to appear in Lerner Hall in conjunction with the
> University's annual World Leaders Forum. Additional information on
> the World Leaders Forum, which is co-sponsoring the event with
> Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, is available
> at http://www.worldleaders.columbia.edu/events.html.
>
> Because this event is neither organized by nor affiliated with the
> Business School, I have no additional information for you at this
> time; I have included at the end of this email the university note
> that was issued on Friday evening. However, on behalf of the
> Business School, I apologize in advance for any inconvenience that
> heightened security measures may cause you in your efforts to reach
> Uris Hall. Representatives from the School will be stationed at the
> campus gates on Broadway at 116 Street and Amsterdam Avenue at 116
> Street to facilitate entry to the campus for Business School
> students, faculty, and staff.
>
> In light of the special circumstances surrounding campus access on
> Monday, travel between Uris and Warren Halls may take longer than
> usual. I would ask that faculty please be understanding in the case
> of students who cannot travel from Uris to Warren (in either
> direction) in the usual 15-minute class change period.
>
> The University’s decision to invite Mr. Ahmadinejad to speak on
> campus and to engage in a dialogue with our students and faculty
> has polarized our community. Some would argue that a University
> should be a place of intellectual freedom and open debate, but
> others – including me – argue that Mr. Ahmadinejad, who is
> responsible for the death of American soldiers, denies the
> Holocaust, and calls for the destruction of Israel, has proven
> himself incapable of engaging in a true and honest academic
> discussion.
>
> While neither I nor any member of the Business School community
> initiated the invitation to Mr. Ahmadinejad, I thank you in advance
> for your patience in dealing with the disruption that his visit
> will cause us. Please also feel free to direct any questions or
> concerns you may have to me or to Vice Dean Amir Ziv at
> az50 at columbia.edu or 212.854.3485.
>
> With regards,
> Glenn Hubbard
>