Interestingly, whichever person submitted the info on Ayers to the publishing office neglected to mention his rather unsavory history. The mailer simply reads as follows:
Dr. William Ayers, Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago, will be the guest speaker at this colloquium sponsored by the departments of education and sociology-anthropology. Founder of both the Small Schools Workshop and the Center for Youth and Society, he teaches courses in interpretive and qualitative research, urban school change, and teaching and the modern predicament. Ayers has written extensively about social justice, democracy and education, and the political contexts of schooling.
Please note: not one mention of his actual history in this country, or about his actual political views over the past four decades. Did they think they could sweep all that under the carpet, and that none of us who weren't on the planning committee would have a clue until after he'd come that he might -- as is, apparently, his wont -- deliver a quiet, insane pitch against America in the guise of a practical lecture on education?
I can't help but wonder if one of the major influences in getting him on the speakers' list is the same member of the faculty who, last year, embarrassed herself -- and our college -- nationally, by being rude and incomprehensible toward another speaking guest? Certainly, they shouldn't need Farhat's help, from poli-sci, in making the school look like idiot-magnets. The sociology-anthropology department is already fairly full of leftists who think America is to blame for all mankind's woes (although, I don't think the department's head is that far gone. As an excessively nice guy, he's just not strong enough to keep the others from making hash of reality).
I also can't help but wonder what nightmare scenario makes them think that paying a known terrorist to give a lecture to students and public is a good idea. While the U of I Chicago may think it's groovy to let violent radicals rule, some of us down here in the corn belt actually like our country and our lives more than that.
So much for guiding and instructing our youth in core values, like human decency, respect for the law, respect for human lives, and so on. let's just hire us a bomber. it'll be fun.
Recommended reading: An Evening With Bill Ayers
Update: Word from inside the campus perimeter -- no real connection between Farhat and this decision has shown up... other than MC now seems to have at least 2 departments with questionable judgement. The poli-sci department seems to be clean, so far. My paranoia may have gotten the better of me, there. My apologies.
Update II: typo corrected in block quote. that, too, was my error.
Update III: read more on International ANSWER and related groups
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1 comment:
I'm not sure precisely which route to take on this... on the one hand, I'd love to be able to hear him speak, for the opportunity to have a few rational people show up & take him down a few pegs. On the other hand, it seems to me, as alumnae, we ought to see what the Alumni Board has to say about college money going to pay for a terrorist to speak. Certainly, there are other local alums who would like to know about this, and could have some input on it. How's your standing with the Board?
It seems to me, there was no college money for columnist Mike Adams to speak last year (last school year), so the Campus Republicans had to dig into their own pockets for his speech... but they had plenty of campus cash for other, more leftist events. Maybe we should ask if they're funding any speakers on behalf of (a) law enforcement and/or (b) the military (both of whom Ayers has repeatedly maligned in the past). It might be nice to have a rebuttal witness or two. I couldn't find one on the list.
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