It is tempting to quip that Columbia University has succeeded splendidly in bringing “Colombia” to its campus. But that is an injustice to Colombia, which has largely rooted out its corruption, unlike Columbia University.
In any case, I got to reflecting on how perceptive leftists understood the previous iteration of the meltdown at Columbia University back in 1968. Not long after the police cleared out the campus back then, Columbia political scientist Herbert Deane and Diana Trilling (Lionel’s spouse), wrote that the worst effect by far was the boost the disturbances were giving to the right, especially the Governor of California. Trilling: “And before [Columbia], in Berkeley, when the New Left was still young, the campus disorders had brought about the election of Reagan.” Deane: “The most likely consequences of violent protests by the left, such as the demonstrations led by student ‘revolutionaries,’ are, therefore, a resurgence in ultra-right-wing movements and an even more widespread swing towards conservatism in this country. We already see ominous signs of these developments, such as . . . the surprising strength of the pro-Reagan forces across the nation. . .”
Likewise the current campus protests are an in-kind contribution to the Trump campaign.
I think Trump ought to air TV spots that just feature the speeches and signs of the protestors at Columbia. No voiceover is necessary. Just a tag line: “Joe Biden’s America.” But I suppose Alvin “the Chipmunk” Bragg will bring fresh charges of campaign finance violations against Trump if his campaign does this.
