You already know my opinion about this, so I'll spare the community of an essay.

Let me just say though that (to me) Columbus Day seems to be on a different level than President's Day or Memorial Day...

Political correctness is merely a form of free speech. The Brown students exercised their rights to speak out against Columbus Day. The school chose to honor the wishes of its customers.

Their rights have not infringed on yours in this case. You have every right to campaign on behalf of Columbus Day. If you can get enough people on your side, maybe Brown will reinstate it.

You miss the point. You are correct when you say that PC is a form of free speech, and if this is a private university they do have the right to change its name.
The point is that these people and PC speech are so taken with the idea of blaming America and trying to please everyone that to be proud to be an American is almost anthema to them. It is that which annoys me.
Tell me why when a magazine prints an article during what is considered the Holiest week of Christianity saying that it is good that Christianity appears to be on the decline in America its called free speech? But if someone was to produce an article saying that Islam is a violent faith on any day of the year its called being racist???

I work in the IT field. I always tell people that without specific information about a problem, you have to expect vague answers. Without knowing who said such things, I suppose the only answer one could give is: because people have opinions.
I suspect you don't have an example by the way you phrased your question. The key point I think is where you used the words "if someone was to." That indicates that you don't have an example of this being done. It's what you imagine would happen.
If you have a specific example, maybe we could help you figure it out. Otherwise, you're just adding to the noise and can be discounted. You may as well ask me: why is it that if unicorns were to eat beef it's called vegetarianism?

BTW, if you want to dig up an example, make sure that the example you give has the same person/group saying both that it is good that christianity is on the decline and that saying Islam is a violent faith is racist. Otherwise, the answer is, that different people believe different things.
And just so you know, Islam is not a race.

for examples the recent newsweek article talks about how it is good that mainstream Christianity is on the decline and it was done this last week. As for the other one well, the Pope has said that Islam is a religion of the sword.
Oh and yes I know Islam is not a race

You wrote:
"Tell me why when a magazine prints an article during what is considered the Holiest week of Christianity saying that it is good that Christianity appears to be on the decline in America its called free speech? But if someone was to produce an article saying that Islam is a violent faith on any day of the year its called being racist???"

Who called the Pope a racist?

Perhaps they did not use the term racist, however President Musharraf called the Popes remarks derogatory, The prime minister of Turkey said he has to apolgize for his remarks. The OIC called it a smear campaigin. Just a few examples as to how when someone says something about Islam its considered inflammatory and racist(yes I know Islam is not a race just can't think of the correct term and it gets the point across)
Now your turn. Why is it called free speech when a person attacks Christianity and if a Christian defends himself their construed as attacking free speech? However when someone says something critical of Islam or some minority group its called hate speech.
Now I fully support the right of magazines like Newsweek to attack Christianity, its a free country after all. However they should not turn around and say Christians hate free speech when they defend their faith, nor should they turn around and call it hate speech when Christians say Islam is wrong.
The standards held for one should hold for all

I suppose it depends on who you talk to. I consider it all free speech. I fully support everyone's right to say what's on their minds. Even if it is unfounded belief in their own personal voodoo gods.