EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern University's president said he's embarrassed by statements from one of the school's professors denying that the Holocaust ever happened.

Engineering professor Arthur Butz recently commended Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent assertion that the Holocaust is a myth.

"People have the right to lie," said Adam Simon of Northwestern University's Hillel House. "People have the right to tell falsehoods out there. We also have the right to tell the truth."

Butz has made similar statements in the past.

Northwestern President Henry Bienen called Butz' statement and his previous remarks denying the Holocaust "a contemptible insult." However, Bienen said Butz has a right to free speech.

"Arguing whether slavery happened doesn't make any sense," Simon said. "Same thing with the Holocaust. It's not a matter of discussing whether or not it existed; it's a matter of discussing what we can learn about it, what are we going to do about it. How can we prevent it from happening in the future?"

NBC5's calls to Butz were not returned.

But he says Butz' views don't represent the school's beliefs and that he's never discussed them in class.

"My grandfather is actually a Holocaust survivor," said one student. "I'm hoping that people can be informed about what actually happened and not be jaded by one particular person."