Lee Bollinger

Lee Bollinger, former President of Columbia University and a prominent First Amendment scholar, dives into the alarming attacks on academic freedom by the Trump administration. He discusses the implications of government power on prestigious institutions like Harvard, emphasizing the risks to free speech. Alongside him, author Michael Lewis sheds light on his book, revealing the often-overlooked, vital work of America's civil servants amidst a climate that diminishes their value. This lively conversation navigates the crossroads of education, politics, and public service.

Lee Bollinger, President Emeritus of Columbia University and a noted First Amendment expert, dives into the pressures facing higher education today. He discusses the Trump administration's tactics of using federal funding threats to influence universities. Bollinger highlights the importance of academic freedom and the legal arguments that institutions can leverage. The conversation also touches on the challenges of navigating free speech, anti-Semitism, and affirmative action within the current political landscape, underscoring the critical need for collaboration among universities to protect these principles.

From April 20, 2021: Jack Goldsmith sat down with Lee Bollinger, the president of Columbia University, and Geoffrey Stone, the Edward H. Levy Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago Law School, to discuss their new book, "National Security, Leaks and Freedom of the Press: The Pentagon Papers Fifty Years On." They discussed the holding and legacy of the Pentagon Papers case, as well as some of the many challenges of applying the Pentagon Papers regime in the modern digital era that is characterized by massive leaks and a very different press landscape than the one that prevailed in 1971.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority appears likely to strike down affirmative action, in a decision expected by this summer. The practice of considering race as a tool to counteract discrimination has been in place at many colleges and universities, and in some workplaces, since the civil-rights era. But a long-running legal campaign has threatened the practice for decades. David Remnick talks with two academics who have had a front-row seat in this fight. Ruth Simmons tells him, “For me, it’s quite simply the question of what will become of us as a nation if we go into our separate enclaves without the opportunity to interact and to learn from each other.” Simmons was the Ivy League’s first Black president, and more recently led Prairie View A. & M., in Texas. Lee Bollinger, while leading the University of Michigan, was the defendant in Grutter v. Bollinger, a landmark case twenty years ago in which the Supreme Court upheld affirmative action. The Court’s current conservative majority is likely to overturn that precedent. Remnick also speaks with Femi Ogundele, the dean of undergraduate admissions at the University of California,Berkeley. Consideration of race in admissions at California state schools has been banned for nearly thirty years. “A lot of us are being kind of tapped on the shoulder and asked, ‘How are you doing what you’re doing in this new reality?’ ” he says. “I want to be very clear: I do not think there is any race-neutral alternative to creating diversity on a college campus,” Ogundele tells Remnick. “However, I do think we can do better than what we’ve done.”

Lee Bollinger, President of Columbia University, and Geoffrey Stone, Professor at the University of Chicago Law School, dive into the legacy of the Pentagon Papers and its relevance today. They explore the tension between national security and press freedom, examining how leaks impact media practices. The conversation touches on the evolution of First Amendment rights and the need for modern reforms in handling classified information. They also discuss the balance of secrecy and transparency, emphasizing the importance of protecting both journalists and whistleblowers in today's digital age.