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After e-mailing most every organization and calling every student leader they could get phone numbers for, Fox has its Columbia pundits set for the next few days. Here's the list, possibly incomplete and subject to change:

dfsTONIGHT at 8:00 PM on the O'Reilly Factor:

Columbia College sophomore Alejandra Aponte, arguing in favor of Columbia's decision to host Ahmadinejad

Business School student Reed Werner, arguing against

Saturday at 2:48 PM with host Jamie Colby:

Journalism School student Bess Kargman, arguing in favor

CC senior and College Republicans president Chris Kulawik, arguing against

Saturday at 5:30 PM with host Julie Banderas:

CC senior and Spectator Editor-in-Chief John Davisson (after Bwog turned the job down), arguing in favor

Monday, after the speech:

CC senior and College Democrats president Josh Lipsky, arguing we're not sure what (although the Democrats endorsed the decision earlier this afternoon).

See also: Fox News

September 21, 2007 @ 6:46 PM | Comments 45 comments | Add comment Post a comment | Link to this article | | | Share on Facebook

Posted by almamater: #1 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 6:53 PM
Chris Kulawik signed a petition endorsing Ahmadinejad's invitation as a great "learning opportunity" in world affairs just a few days ago. Now he's suddenly had a change of heart? Oh, and by the way, shame on the College Dems.
Posted by uh,: #2 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 6:59 PM
yeah, wow, kulawik/who is alejandra aponte? did they just pluck her off of campus?

and i hope lipsky will be talking about how many students will be protesting this man on monday. otherwise, shame on the dems.
Posted by So...: #3 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 7:07 PM
can we revive the drinking game?
Posted by j'aime ale: #4 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 7:09 PM
Ale Aponte is amazing! What a sexy Guatemalan hearthrob. Who's she representing, Model UN?
Posted by woohoo: #5 (in reply to #4) · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 7:17 PM
ale! make 2010 proud :)
Posted by well: #6 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 7:22 PM
i kinda feel sad for the people who are on the pro side on these programs. it's going to eventually become two people yelling at them, without much discourse
Posted by A Little Sad: #7 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 7:24 PM
I'm a little saddened that this is on Fixednoise (Republikkkan$!!) or I might be able to watch these news idiots go BAAAAAAAAAAAW! No talky! Yes talky! BAAAAAW.
Posted by Student: #8 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 7:39 PM
Ale Aleponte is the Head Delegate for Model UN, the largest international relations club on campus.
Posted by ok then: #9 (in reply to #8) · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 7:43 PM
sorry, i didn't know that. is cumun part of the coalition of groups protesting though? i don't think so. hopefully she's at least studied last year's tapes of columbia on o'reilly.
Posted by ttan: #10 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 8:11 PM
Alejandra Aponte did very well. She didn't let the situation devolve into a shouting match, which is what I think a lot of people were expecting. Unfortunately, Bill didn't do himself any favors. To begin with, he kept calling her "Ponte".
Posted by are you insane: #11 (in reply to #10) · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 8:13 PM
"I can't judge ahmadinejad's actions in iran without being in his position and understanding what he's going through." -Alejandra Aponte

ARE YOU SERIOUS? You think that's "doing well"? That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. Gee, maybe Ahmadinejad has some depression and he's taking it out on his country, I mean, I don't know, there has to be a reasonable explanation for this, I'm sure he's a good guy...
Posted by uhh: #12 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 8:15 PM
none of you care about having mahmoud at school.. you're just thrilled to have columbia in the news--nobody cares about us. along with brown, cornell, and dartmouth, we're the losers of the ivy league.
Posted by hmmm: #13 (in reply to #1) · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 8:15 PM
Assuming Bwog is right... because, you know, they've never been wrong
Posted by ttan: #14 (in reply to #11) · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 8:16 PM
If you're asking about the substance of the arguments, I think both sides were pretty awful. Alejandra, yes, waffled and flaked. Reed, on the other hand, did nothing but repeat what what every conservative blogger/commentator/pundit has already written. I was merely referring to the fact that she handled the situation far better than the ISO wingnuts who went on O'Reilly last year -- she didn't let it devolve into a shouting match.
Posted by right: #15 (in reply to #14) · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 8:18 PM
I think that's the point. Remember, this is O'Reilly, the show is about HIM. Nobody on his show is more intelligent than he is, because the point is to make him look good. The two girls last year were total idiots, you're right. But being a silly moral relativist makes Columbia look TERRIBLE because she's supposed to be some kind of Student Leader, the best of the best. That was awful!!
Posted by ttan: #16 (in reply to #15) · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 8:22 PM
Right, and who watching O'Reilly, expecting red meat and mud slinging and towering gushers of blood, really cares about the intellectual and moral content? As you said, the show's not about content. It's about O'Reilly. And the fact that she did not allow O'Reilly to make it about him and how loudly he can scream does not just her, but all of Columbia credit.
Posted by Wow: #17 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 8:28 PM
Kulawik is all KINDS of hypocrit
Posted by objectivity?: #18 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 8:32 PM
This whole post may not be true, but if it is, why would John Davisson agree to support a position? If you're reporting on this, you should stay neutral. I'm a reporter on campus, I got an e-mail from Fox today, and I said no.
Posted by tze: #19 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 8:57 PM
i think Alejandra did ok although she was clearly at a disadvantage, it seemed like fox really didnt want to hear her out
Posted by student: #20 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 9:06 PM
I agree Ale did okay all things considered. She definitely should have come out much harder on Iran. But given the fact that she found out about this a few hours before the show, and is new to the student leadership thing, she stayed quite composed. In fact I think she did us justice until she was asked about the Iranian president.
Posted by big fan: #21 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 9:18 PM
bring back AVI ZENILMAN!
Posted by yay ale: #22 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 10:12 PM
in terms of mere public speaking ability, Alejandra shat on Reid Warner. He cleared his throat more times than a thai hooker, and like it's been said, said basically nothing but what i'm sure he's read on the right-wing blogs that be. o'reilly has a talent for reducing his debate opponents to speechless incoherent rage, and alejandra didn't submit. kudos.
Posted by by the by: #23 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 10:14 PM
oh look i'm chris kulawik and i support free speech. oh i mean unless i don't want to hear what he has to say.
Posted by well: #24 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 10:14 PM
the editor in chief of the paper is above the news section, the "reporting" section. He can represent the paper and/or say what he wants. John, if this is true, here's hoping you give insight on the two sides. You're a better journalist than fox news--prove it.
Posted by Speccie: #25 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 10:16 PM
I think John is going on Fox News to discuss the position the editorial board took and why they did so.
Posted by girl2: #26 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 10:41 PM
put these things up on youtube.

please.

I want to laugh a little.

Posted by Avi = : #27 (in reply to #21) · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 10:46 PM
joke. That guy was trounced by Bill
Posted by o god: #28 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 11:03 PM
she fucked up. she should have made it absolutely clear that hes a villain

and why was that a vet such a fag?
Posted by oh man: #29 · reply · track
September 21, 2007 at 11:56 PM
she was not what the columbia student body needed right now.
Posted by yah: #30 · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 12:45 AM
Much as I'm sure John would relish the idea of taking Bwog's sloppy seconds, Fox first contacted Spec on Wednesday, so I don't think that's the case.
Posted by ya...: #31 (in reply to #30) · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 12:51 AM
Doubtless true, but at the same time I suspect they do like B&W staffers. Zenilman's performance was EXACTLY what the O'Reilly Factor was looking for last year.
Posted by Irate '10: #32 · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 12:54 AM
Why do these gloryhound Columbia students insist on going on FauxNews programs and making the rest of us look like out of touch moral relativists? The consensus on campus from what I can tell is not that he's not evil - it's that we should have debate. Whether or not we agree with the invitation, Alejandra Aponte should apologize, first for presuming to represent the student body (who the hell elected her?) and for making us all look like Ivory Tower nincompoops.
Posted by Huh: #33 · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 1:10 AM
I know Kulawik, who said he's opposed?

I trust spec (and the petition he signed) more than bwog on real news, remember this is a gossip blog
Posted by Wow: #34 · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 1:52 AM
All I have to say is, HOW EMBARASSING. Great that more of our moronic so-called student leaders our putting themselves out there to be made into asinine figures to be mocked by liberals and conservatives alike
Posted by If any: #35 · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 1:53 AM
of these people were responsible, they would turn down their invitations to appear on the show
Posted by rumor: #36 · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 2:35 AM
someone said there's columbia on hannity & colmes on monday, too - is that lipsky or someon e else?
Posted by Kulawik flip flop?: #37 · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 7:28 AM
Here's the link to the letter Kulawik co-signed:

[external link to www.bwog.net]

"We believe that this presents an incredible opportunity for the student body to learn about world affairs and to challenge a major controversial figure. In a university setting, no view is too disreputable to be excluded - the goal of a university is to hear and present a wide array of opinions so that they may be challenged and debated in the spirit of free speech and the pursuit of knowledge."

I think Kulawik needs to explain why he supports the letter and yet will be opposing (whatever that means) on Fox News. If Bess Kargman is reading this, she should print off the letter and bring it with her today, in case Kulawik is suddenly anti-invite.

However, it's entirely plausible that he'll be consistent, and they'll both argue that this is an "incredible opportunity." There are shades of gray - Kulawik could say that, while also being more aggressively anti-Ahmadinejad (again, whatever that means). We'll just have to wait and see, but I'm definitely interested in whether he's flip-flopped. That would be too bad.
Posted by #37: #38 (in reply to #37) · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 7:31 AM
Just to clarify, maybe Kargman is a member of the ISO, and this will be a debate between someone who opposes war with Iran and someone who supports it. Not sure if that's what they believe, but it could be the distinction between them if they both agree Ahmadinejad should speak here.
Posted by yeah: #39 (in reply to #33) · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 8:21 AM
I agree. I don't think Kulawik is opposed & actually believes in the statement as he helped to write it. Although I don't put it past him to argue the con for his own personal glory on Fox News.
Posted by rjt: #40 (in reply to #32) · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 10:56 AM
Ooh! Faux News! Incisive political commentary! Micro$oft! Bu$h!
Posted by Fuck u Matt Sanchez: #41 · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 12:28 PM
[external link to www.youtube.com]

Posted by LOL: #42 (in reply to #40) · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 3:28 PM
You often seem to get very elitist over humor, Mr. Trump.
Posted by pleeaaassseee: #43 · reply · track
September 22, 2007 at 10:37 PM
give us links of the fox news interview with spec's editor in chief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by a thought: #44 · reply · track
September 23, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Alejandra Aponte kicked ass. Am I the only one who noticed how short the segment was? O'Reilly and the other Fox shows use a lot of creative editing to create the illusion that they want to create. If they only had three minutes of material, that means that the vast majority of the conversation was her wiping the floor with them.
Posted by agreed!: #45 (in reply to #30) · reply · track
September 23, 2007 at 6:59 PM
"CC senior and Spectator Editor-in-Chief John Davisson (after Bwog turned the job down), arguing in favor"

How petty, Bwog! As if hundreds of students didn't receive an e-mail invitation to appear on the O'Reilly Factor and any number of other programs. They're not exactly being picky.
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