Critical Mass

Turns out Columbia University hasn't finished ticking people off yet. Apparently, just hours before a conservative Arab invited by the College Republicans was set to speak on terror-related issues, CU decided to cancel all RSVPs to the event and limit attendance to a short list of guests. At least 77 people had reserved tickets for the event, and one blogger got in touch with an RSPV-er who found out about the cancelation while he was on a Greyhound traveling to the event. Here's part of his response to the cancelation email from the Univeristy Chaplain:

I wonder what prompted you to suddenly change the attendance policy? I mean, I have signed up well in advance (prior notice, hint-hint), got the confirmation on time (hint-hint), and left Boston on time, having spent $50 for the roundtrip ticket.

It couldn't be due to political correctness, could it? I mean, you wouldn't be afraid of some outsiders coming to the event from afar so as to get educated, enlightened, and inspired, right?

This, dear Jewelnel, smells of a scandal. Which you are about to have, on account of this cancellation, as well as for quite a few other reasons. Your decision is outrageous, unfair, inconsiderate, undemocratic, anti-intellectual, anti-academic, frivolous, gratuitous, etc. Oh, wait, I forgot -- did I mention it was also highly untimely? This decision flies in the face of the First Amendment and everything else that makes this country great.

 We'll see if this mini-scandal expands any more.