While their fellow Ivy League institution fired back right away, Columbia University is being cautious about reports that the NYPD spied on Muslim students. University President Lee C. Bollinger said last week that he was “deeply concerned” about the alleged NYPD’s surveillance, but has not written a public condemnation like Yale’s president. “We haven’t found any real probable cause to suggest that it did happen,” said Columbia’s provost at a town hall meeting with students. “If any of you have evidence that suggests we are wrong, please let us know. But so far, our response has been based on the information we have.” Maybe he means besides the department’s “Weekly [Muslim Student Associations] Report,” which included Columbia, that the AP uncovered here.
