Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger is facing discontented professors and faculty members criticizing his leadership.

The faculty members read to him their 'statement of concern' criticizing him over several issues, including his way of management, and in particular his challenging introductory remarks when Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited the university this fall.

Bollinger came under intense attack in September when Columbia invited the Iranian president and then introduced him with a 10-minute verbal assault. Bollinger claimed that in his remarks about Ahmadinejad he was simply exercising his rights to freedom of speech.

“I think for most people the Ahmadinejad incident was an occasion that brought out a lot of discomfort,” said Wayne Proudfoot, a religion professor.

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