A report in the Nov. 3 issue of The Student on Congressman Anthony Weiner's request that Columbia University fire professor Joseph Massad requires clarification. The congressman, the stooge of a slovenly character assassination, bleats that, "So far the professor's defenders have just argued as a college professor you have the right to say any outrageous, hateful thing you want ..." The article leaves it at that, noting that Columbia "takes anti-Semitic acts seriously." The impression created is that Massad is anti-Semitic, and no one has denied it.

This impression is false. A petition in defense of Massad (viewable at   http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?jmassad&201) is now at over 2,200 signatures. It defends Massad's teaching, intellectual integrity and fine scholarship, not just his right to speak. Massad is only the most prominent target of the scurrilous, vicious and anti-intellectual Campus Watch-led campaign accusing anyone who criticizes Israeli criminality or Zionist ideology of anti-Semitism. Those curious about the case-emblematic as it is of a huge coordinated effort to silence, intimidate, remove or smear Israel's academic critics-can read Massad's reply at http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3282.shtml. Judge the case for yourself and consider signing the petition.

Sayres Rudy

Visiting Professor of

Political Science