Скачать или смотреть Criticism aimed at Columbia university over invitation to Ahmadinejad

(22 Sep 2007)
1. Various of students on campus at Columbia University
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Deborah Beim, Columbia University student:
"I'm glad to be in an environment where I feel comfortable having him come speak and knowing that there are people who agree with me that he's not someone who's viewpoints we support. I think that it's important to be in a university where someone like that can come and talk to us. We know that we can respond to it and also espouse our own viewpoints. And I think that the university is reacting well to that, I'm glad that he's coming and I'm glad that we're responding to that."
3. Tilt down of front gate of Columbia University
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Josh Foster, Columbia University student:
"As much as I might disagree with his opinions you can't debate someone until you hear them out. So, really the only way to have a disagreement and maybe argue against him is to let him say his fill and then give ours."
5. Newspapers showing picture of Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
6. Close-up of headline reading: (English) "Zero Clue, Idiot Iranian Prez is 'amazed' by uproar"
7. Close-up of headline reading: (English) "Access of Evil"
8. Various of banners in Dag Hammerskjold plaza in protest of Ahmadinejad's arrival
9. Man handing out leaflets, tilt-up to protest banner
STORYLINE:
Columbia University said it does not plan to call off a speech by Iran's controversial president despite heavy pressure from critics.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is travelling to New York to address the United Nations' General Assembly.
He was scheduled to appear on Monday at a question-and-answer session with Columbia faculty and students as part of the school's World Leaders Forum.
Ahmadinejad has called the Holocaust "a myth" and called for Israel to be destroyed.
His planned appearance at Columbia was condemned by Jewish groups including the Jewish Defence Organisation, which described Ahmadinejad as "the Hitler of Iran".
Two Columbia students expressed their support for Ahmadinejad's upcoming visit even though they said don't agree with most of the Iranian leader's ideas.
"I'm glad to be in an environment where I feel comfortable having him come speak and knowing that there are people who agree with me that he's not someone who's viewpoints we support," said Deborah Beim, a junior student at Columbia University.
Josh Foster a law school student supported the University's decision to have the controversial guest in campus.
"As much as I might disagree with his opinions you can't debate someone until you hear them out. So, really the only way to have a disagreement, maybe argue against him is to maybe let him say his fill and then give ours," he said.
Columbia spokesman Robert Hornsby said on Thursday there was no plan to cancel the appearance, although the university dropped plans for an Ahmadinejad speech last year because of security and logistical problems.
The decision came after a Jewish activist group expressed outrage over the invitation.
Ahmadinejad's trip to New York ignited a debate this week over his rejected request to lay a wreath at ground zero.
The State Department calls Iran a state sponsor of 'terror', and politicians and families of 11 September victims were outraged that its president might visit the site of the 2001 attacks.
Police rejected Ahmadinejad's request, citing construction and security concerns.
In an interview scheduled to air Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes," Ahmadinejad indicated he would not press the issue but expressed disbelief that the visit would offend Americans.

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