Assemblyman takes issue with heckling

The American Legion - February 24, 2011

New York Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli wrote a letter criticizing the treatment of a Columbia University student/Iraq veteran who was heckled during a recent ROTC forum. Photo courtesy www.assembly.state.ny.us

When Columbia student and former Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Maschek was heckled during a school forum discussing ROTC on campus, it struck a nerve with New York Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli. Castelli, a veteran himself, was angry that a young man who was shot 11 times in a firefight in northern Iraq in February 2008 was shown a lack of respect by his fellow students.

A college professor and Vietnam War veteran, Castelli wrote a letter to Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger and CC’d, among others, American Legion Department of New York Commander V. James Troiola. The letter was shared with National Commander Jimmie L. Foster, who praised Castelli.

“The American Legion praises Assemblyman Castelli for standing up for former Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Maschek and all veterans currently enrolled in colleges throughout the country,” Foster said. “His letter hit on every pertinent point. Our veterans deserve to be treated, at the very least, with the same respect as any of their fellow students.”

The following is Castelli’s letter:

Dear President Bollinger:

I read with dismay in the New York Post, in the article dated February 20th, 2011, of the treatment received by an Iraqi War veteran and Purple Heart recipient.

As a champion of diversity, I would expect that you could convey to your students the fact that they do not need to honor the war to respect and honor our warriors. The treatment of this young veteran who was wounded eleven times in the service of his country is abhorrent, to say the least.

Having been a College Professor for the past thirteen years in several colleges, and the Chair of one department, I fully recognize the desire to allow our students to be heard and their right to legitimate dissent in a free society.

However, as a Vietnam Veteran who also suffered the abuse of an insensitive, but thankfully small segment of our society upon my return from war in 1969, I am acutely aware of this abuse and the need for it to cease and desist immediately.

To think that students in an Ivy League school who purport to be intelligent, insightful, and open-minded, would treat a wounded veteran with such disdain, is nothing short of disgraceful. As the Ranking Member of the Veteran’s Affairs Committee in the New York State Assembly, I believe you should devote some of your sensitivity training to the treatment of our nation’s veterans.

Whether Columbia chooses to allow an ROTC program on its campus or not, is not the point. What is the point, is that members of our military who served their country and risked their lives on all our behalf, should be treated with the same dignity and respect that your institution demands for any diverse member of our population.

I respectfully request that you open up a dialogue with your students and convey to them that sensitivity about diversity should be extended to all Americans, most especially those heroic enough to risk their lives in the service of this great nation.

Respectfully Submitted,

ROBERT J. CASTELLI

Member of the Assembly

89th District

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Tell us what you think

larryg

February 24, 2011 - 4:44pm

GOD BLESS MR. CASTELLI. VETERANS SHOULD NEVER BE TREATED AS THIS PURPLE HEART VETERAN WAS AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. IT MAKES ME WONDER WHAT KIND OF UPBRINGING THESE COLUMBIA STUDENTS HAD, AND WHAT KIND OF COLLEGE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IS TO ALLOW SUCH DISRESPECTFULL TREATMENT OF A U.S. SERVICEMAN.

braves48

February 24, 2011 - 6:08pm

Hats off to Mr, Castelli for his stand in his letter to the president and students at Columbia. As an Army veteran who served from 1970-1976 I applaud Mr. Castelli for his support for SSG Anthony Maschek and his heroic efforts in defense of our nation and the very students who showed no respect for his heroism. Thank goodness we have some people in government who realize the sacrifices made by our troops in defending our freedom. Hopefully, Columbia University will show the same kind of respect due SSG Maschek and Mr. Castelli by making sensitivity courses a requirement. Their behavior was disgraceful.

nathaniel61

February 24, 2011 - 6:33pm

As a veteran it greatly troubles me when our youth disrespects what this country stands for and the Men and Women who give and gave their lives now and in the past.For the very freedom that we all enjoy everyday of our existence too bad!!!!!!!

sam t

February 24, 2011 - 7:22pm

What a disgrace these students of higher education displayed. As a Viet Nam vet I am appaled at their actions. To be able to live in a free country, and then treat a wounded vet with such disrespect. What is our country coming to?

revjake

February 24, 2011 - 7:32pm

This is shades of the Viet Nam era. I thought we had gone beyond that ignorant response to a wounded warrior. Thank you Assemblyman Castelli for defending this fine example of American Pride, Integrity and Guts.

boucains

February 25, 2011 - 12:54am

I live in Oregon where unlike some states (like California, my previous home) you have to conclusivly prove you are a veteran, had a certain discharge category and are entitled to any medal shown on your veteran's license plate. When you see a Purple Heart or Bronze Star you don't have to wonder if there is a pretender behind the wheel.

This year Oregon allows the word "veteran" on your driver's license to prove beyond a doubt to anyone that you are what you say you are. I received my new driver's license 2 days ago and thanked God for allowing me to live here.

In my county a 12-man Sheriff's M/C & SWAT team escorts our flag to ceremonies. Vets get in to the state air show free. We can shop at many local and national stores that are proud to ADVERTISE and honor a veteran's discount. I seldom get tailgated even at rush hour. Bumper-to-bumper, but drivers behind me stay at a safe distance. Brake lights shine when I signal my desire to change lanes.

I'm a lucky man.

Ed Wurpel

February 25, 2011 - 8:41am

I find the heckling that occurred at Columbia U. to be disgusting and disgraceful. It reflects poorly on President Bollinger and the faculty.So much for civil discourse and an honest analysis of all views. It appears that Columbia is interested in propaganda that furthers the hidden agenda of the administration and faculty, not education and appreciation of the sacrifices made by volunteer citizens trying to defend our way of life.

RL Bradley

February 25, 2011 - 8:52am

My position requires that I hire software engineers. I've probably hired somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 engineers over the past fifteen years. There are certain universities that I will not hire from because the education they offer runs counter to the goals of our organization. Columbia is one such school. This episode reaffirms my conviction that students trained by Columbia are not appropriate for our team.

kjetski

February 27, 2011 - 11:34am

WE are the lucky ones, and by that I mean all Americans, because of those who chose to wear the uniform and serve this country. Shame on you Columbia U.

Navy66

February 27, 2011 - 12:39pm

There comes a time in a person's life when each must be of his own mind ... colleges have political agenda that permeate their teaching staff. Many such places have factions that view the military as an unwelcomed arm of oppressive government.

While all reasonable people are correct to be appalled by, and react to, the treatment of our wounded hero, uncivilized discourse has always been a part of our national fabric ... Many of our greatest citizens and Founding Fathers were educated and likewise shouted down at these very institutions, institutions with history that often precede our revolution. They too risked all and many lost all out of sight or sound. That no longer happens.

Social media is an outlet to the world and we have no control of messengers or their messages. Now all are exposed. As I said in a speech in 1991, the Internet means no more secrets ... it's freedom without concience or control. Our filters are morality and knowledge. What now?

jhmc0302

February 28, 2011 - 11:05am

Shame on you Columbia U and let's bring back the draft and stop laying Iraq and Afganistan wars on the backs of mostly middle class men and women.
I don't want to take this politcally, but the primary base of education comes from the home. I was fortunate to have the nuns and Jesuits and the Marine Corps and no free rides. I never said "Whatever" to a person if my dad ever heard me say that, he'd be on me like white on rice. The Jesuits have J.U.G. Justice under God . Think a Sargeant Instructor or a D.I. is tough .
Sorry for the rambling, but I'm worried for this country.

James P. Vetzel

February 28, 2011 - 4:16pm

Cut off ALL Federal funding if they do not allow ROTC on Campus.
James P. Vetzel, US Navy Retired (Combat Veteran)