The grand opening

In a review about the opening of the Columbia Center for Palestine Studies, Danielle Reich writes the following:
Columbia’s Broadway gates and at the walkway leading up to the grand opening, members involved in the project were passing out anti-Israel magazines, making the false claims that Israel is an “apartheid” state focused on “ethnic cleansing”. Additionally, those attending the event were circulating signs that called for boycotts of Israeli products and funds for a U.S. boat to join the next Gaza “freedom” flotilla. As one of the few pro-Israel individuals attending the event, I personally felt very uncomfortable at the opening event of CCPS and afraid for the changes it can make to the narrative of Israel’s history.
http://blog.campusmediawatch.org/2010/10/14/event-review-columbia-center-for-palestine-studies-ccps-%E2%80%9Czindeeq%E2%80%9D-opening-event/

After reading the words of Rashid Khalidi, the center's co-founder, I am also worried.

Before the presidential elections, a Jewish voter had questioned the then Senator Obama about his relationship with Mr. Khalidi.
“You mentioned Rashid Khalidi, who’s a professor at Columbia," Obama said. "I do know him because I taught at the University of Chicago. And he is Palestinian. And I do know him and I have had conversations. He is not one of my advisors; he’s not one of my foreign policy people. His kids went to the Lab school where my kids go as well. He is a respected scholar, although he vehemently disagrees with a lot of Israel’s policy.”
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/05/obama-on-the-de.html

A New York Times article gave more details about President Obama's relationship with Mr. Khalidi.
For years, the Obamas had been regular dinner guests at the Hyde Park home of Rashid Khalidi, a Middle East scholar at the University of Chicago and an adviser to the Palestinian delegation to the 1990s peace talks. Mr. Khalidi said the talk would often turn to the Middle East, and he talked with Mr. Obama about issues like living conditions in the occupied territories. In 2000, the Khalidis held a fund-raiser for Mr. Obama during his Congressional campaign.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/us/politics/11chicago.html?pagewanted=print