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NYU has been teaching an advanced class on how to build a Chinese wall.
The school has effectively cordoned off political dissident Chen Guangcheng since he arrived in the US last year, sources told The Post, blocking approaches from human-rights groups, Washington politicians — and even a Hollywood agent.
Last May, shortly after Chen arrived at NYU following a daring escape from China, William Morris Entertainment exec Eric Reid was trying frantically to reach the blind human-rights hero, according to emails obtained by The Post.
“I have a major Film/TV client that is interested in telling [Chen’s] amazing story,” Reid wrote in a May 19, 2012, email to Bob Fu, a Texas-based political activist and longtime supporter of Chen.
Fu gave Reid an introductory email to NYU representatives, copying it to a PR exec as well as to Jerry Cohen, the NYU law professor who helped clear Chen’s path to the US.
But nearly a month later, on June 14, the Tinseltown agent wrote that he hadn’t heard from NYU after he “reached out a number of times.”
A William Morris spokesman declined to comment yesterday, although a source close to the agency confirmed it had made efforts to contact Chen through NYU.
“Chen did not find out about this request until early this year from me,” Fu told The Post, referring to the call from Hollywood. “I asked Chen whether he had talked with [William Morris]. He said never.”
The Post reported exclusively last week that NYU is ousting Chen from its campus amid pressure from the Chinese government.
Critics say NYU has tried to isolate, muzzle and control the outspoken activist during his yearlong stay.
“NYU regrets to hear that the distortions and falsehoods continue,” spokesman John Beckman responded yesterday. “[NYU] has provided staff and support to facilitate his activities, wishes, schedule and family.”
Visual Artists Guild, a human-rights group, also attempted to reach Chen through NYU last May to invite him to call in via Skype to a Los Angeles event in his honor.
“Mr. Chen says he is grateful for the award but is unable to call in this weekend,” NYU spokesman Michelle Tsai wrote in a May 26, 2012 email to Ann Lau, who chairs the Visual Artists Guild.
Several months later, however, the group finally reached Chen. “He said he didn’t hear about it, and asked if we could arrange to do it later,” Lau told The Post.
Chen finally met with the group last month, Lau said.
Under pressure from NYU last August, Chen reluctantly turned down an invitation to testify before the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, according to New Jersey Republican Congressman Chris Smith. When Chen finally appeared before the committee this April, his relationship with the school soured further, Smith said.
The day Chen arrived from China at Newark Airport, friends and fans had gathered at the terminal to welcome him with “flowers, balloons, banners, all of that,” says Reggie Littlejohn, president of nonprofit Women’s Rights Without Frontiers.
But Chen never met the welcoming party, since his handlers changed plans at the last minute and whisked him straight from the plane to NYU.
“I don’t know if that was part of the deal with China, that he wouldn’t receive a hero’s welcome, or what,” Littlejohn said