Follow-up: Columbia U. won’t invite Minutemen founder back

Minutemen founder Jim Gilchrest will not be invited back to speak at Columbia University. According to a post in Gothamist a tentative invitation was offered to Gilchrist by professor David Eisenbach, but the school’s Columbia Political Union (CPU) opted against issuing a formal invitation:

“The CPU was apparently interested in re-inviting Gilchrist with the hope of having Karina Garcia, the leader of the group who charged the stage last year, also speak at the event. According to Garcia, she told Eisenbach she was not interested in speaking with Gilchrist, but the CPU voted to invite him with the understanding that she would be participating. When it became clear that Garcia would not be speaking, the CPU decided to rescind its invitation to Gilchrist.”

Gilchrist replied to the rescinded invite by assuming that a return appearance would have "redeemed the Columbia University student body's reputation of being comprised of a...caveman mentality."

The change in plans occurred one day after it was reported that Gilchrist would be interested in speaking again at Columbia. His previous appearance in October 2006 was remembered by a melee involving students and Minutemen as he was trying to give a speech.

Sources- Gothamist, The Latin Americanist, New York Post

Image- Columbia University (View of Columbia University’s library)