Heineman: NU should take back Ayers invite
BY MELISSA LEE / Lincoln Journal Star
Gov. Dave Heineman on Friday issued a strong statement urging University of Nebraska leaders to cancel William Ayers’ planned visit to NU’s Lincoln campus next month.
“This is an embarrassment to the University of Nebraska and the state of Nebraska,” Heineman said. “Bill Ayers is a well-known radical who should never have been invited to the University of Nebraska.”
Ayers, a founder of a group that claimed responsibility for the bombings of several public buildings in protest of the Vietnam War, is scheduled to deliver a keynote address Nov. 15 during a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Education and Human Sciences.
Related Link(s):
He is now a distinguished education professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago who has authored numerous scholarly articles and books.
The UNL college’s dean, Marjorie Kostelnik, has said a faculty committee selected Ayers last spring, before his ties to Sen. Barack Obama became a focus of the presidential campaign.
Ayers was chosen, Kostelnik said, for his expertise in areas like social justice and urban educational reform.
But news of his planned appearance has sparked significant public protest.
University offices have been flooded with angry phone calls, some from people threatening to withhold financial support from NU. Heineman, too, said his office has received a steady stream of calls and that citizens he’s talked to are “angry and outraged.”
That’s why he’s calling for NU President J.B. Milliken and Board of Regents Chairman Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons to step in and rescind UNL’s invitation to Ayers.
“That poor judgment needs to be corrected,” Heineman said.
Regents have said they don’t believe it’s their job to disinvite Ayers. But they, as well as Milliken, have called the decision to bring Ayers to campus “poor judgment.”
“In all honesty, if I were that college, I would disinvite him,” Hassebrook said Thursday. “In general I just don’t think it’s a good thing to go around blowing other people up.”
There were many other experts in the education field, Heineman said, who should have been invited over Ayers.
“The celebration will be in trouble unless they rescind this invitation,” he said.
Reach Melissa Lee at 473-2682 or mlee@journalstar.com.

Facebook
del.icio.us
Fark It
Reddit




Post Your Comment
Standards and RulesYour posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
Why don't you ignore this guy? "
Mike in DC wrote on October 17, 2008 2:57 pm:
Barb wrote on October 17, 2008 2:58 pm:
Lisa wrote on October 17, 2008 2:59 pm:
Don wrote on October 17, 2008 2:59 pm:
ha ha wrote on October 17, 2008 3:01 pm:
CS wrote on October 17, 2008 3:04 pm:
wow wrote on October 17, 2008 3:05 pm:
wow..... wrote on October 17, 2008 3:05 pm:
Mitch wrote on October 17, 2008 3:06 pm:
Susan wrote on October 17, 2008 3:07 pm:
Tricky Dick wrote on October 17, 2008 3:08 pm:
Mr. Goodsense wrote on October 17, 2008 3:10 pm:
Maybe BEN SHOULD LET HIS BOY, BARACK OBAMA, know of his dispproval of terrorist Ayers. Just a thought... "
I knew it wrote on October 17, 2008 3:11 pm:
Whos next wrote on October 17, 2008 3:20 pm:
Dano wrote on October 17, 2008 3:24 pm:
Why doesn't anyone look into how chummy John Mccain is with an Gordon Liddy? That guy was ready to do some very evil things just to keep Nixon and the Republicans in office. None of them were based on protesting a war, they were simply about corruption, greed, and power. That guy is far more notoroious in history than this guy ever will bea dn far closer to the candidate than this guys is to Obama.
Now the governor is using this "radical" as a way to get himself into the headlines as well. What do you fear from having him speak? What do you fear from others learning about this guy? How can one judge who a person is, without hearing them speak? this is no different than banning a book. Get over yourselves and your political agendas already. "
Gerrr wrote on October 17, 2008 3:26 pm:
Free Speaker wrote on October 17, 2008 3:27 pm:
Charlene wrote on October 17, 2008 3:29 pm:
Ask wrote on October 17, 2008 3:31 pm:
Nic F wrote on October 17, 2008 3:33 pm:
ajfly wrote on October 17, 2008 3:35 pm:
Shane wrote on October 17, 2008 3:39 pm:
Jim wrote on October 17, 2008 3:41 pm:
Bo Vandy wrote on October 17, 2008 3:45 pm:
Why would Nelson need to let Obama know his thoughts. Perhaps you missed the numerous times Obama condemned Ayers' actions in the 60's "
Chris wrote on October 17, 2008 3:48 pm:
And before you paint me as some neo-conservative nut job, just know that I'm an open-minded Republican that supports Barack Obama for president. This Ayers business isn't about modern politics; it's about not allowing an unrepentant traitor and terrorist to speak at a publicly-funded university. UNL should've known better. "
SmokinJoe wrote on October 17, 2008 3:48 pm:
What great publicity wrote on October 17, 2008 3:49 pm:
Ej wrote on October 17, 2008 3:51 pm:
Re wow wrote on October 17, 2008 3:56 pm:
tom issaquah wrote on October 17, 2008 3:56 pm:
Speaker wrote on October 17, 2008 4:00 pm:
CJD wrote on October 17, 2008 4:06 pm:
UNL 71 wrote on October 17, 2008 4:06 pm:
mTm wrote on October 17, 2008 4:08 pm:
tom issaquah wrote on October 17, 2008 4:14 pm:
HEY SUSAN wrote on October 17, 2008 4:14 pm:
Joe wrote on October 17, 2008 4:17 pm:
to Barb wrote on October 17, 2008 4:18 pm:
Jeff wrote on October 17, 2008 4:23 pm:
To Governor Heineman wrote on October 17, 2008 4:26 pm:
DTO Luv wrote on October 17, 2008 4:28 pm:
Sean wrote on October 17, 2008 4:31 pm:
sgb wrote on October 17, 2008 4:35 pm:
HVJ wrote on October 17, 2008 4:35 pm:
peb wrote on October 17, 2008 4:39 pm:
Do you know who Walter Annenberg is? Mr. Annenberg donated $500 million to begin a project that became the largest public/private endeavor in U.S. history dedicated to improving public schools.
Mr Annenberg was very supportive of conservative Republican causes and a close friend of President Ronald Reagan.
If Mr. Ayers was such a threat to us, 40 years later, would someone such as Mr. Annenberg appoint him to be on a board that handled millions of dollars of his money?
In a letter to the editor in the Chicago Tribune, Ayers wrote, "I condemn all forms of terrorism — individual, group and official". He also condemned the September 11 terrorist attacks in that letter. "Today we are witnessing crimes against humanity on our own shores on an unthinkable scale, and I fear that we may soon see more innocent people in other parts of the world dying in response."
Nebraska's conservatives' extreme actions in this situation are VERY alarming. "
Denny wrote on October 17, 2008 4:45 pm:
Chris wrote on October 17, 2008 4:56 pm:
Cowboy George wrote on October 17, 2008 5:01 pm:
Why did the governor even give an opinion on this subject? I expect to see him out there exercising his 1st amendment right by protesting; otherwise, he needs to keep his thoughts to himself. Same goes for all other public officials giving their opinion on this matter. "
One Out In The Third wrote on October 17, 2008 5:09 pm:
jimmy wrote on October 17, 2008 5:17 pm:
Jobeth wrote on October 17, 2008 5:18 pm:
Boonie wrote on October 17, 2008 5:22 pm:
Heineman get a life wrote on October 17, 2008 5:29 pm:
unl student wrote on October 17, 2008 5:33 pm:
BigMo wrote on October 17, 2008 5:40 pm:
Get a Clue wrote on October 17, 2008 5:54 pm:
Dismayed wrote on October 17, 2008 5:56 pm:
Eric wrote on October 17, 2008 6:08 pm:
Amazing wrote on October 17, 2008 6:10 pm:
To those bigots out there that use the term boy when referring to Barack Obama is way out of line. SHAME ON YOU! GROW UP! "
mom wrote on October 17, 2008 6:32 pm:
seeclear wrote on October 17, 2008 6:56 pm:
I didn't realize the election was over. The Democrats haven't won anything. And excuse me, I am NOT a racists and you are an embarassment to Democrats for suggesting all 'repubs' (correct spelling, Republicans) are. "
Seth wrote on October 17, 2008 7:29 pm:
pam wrote on October 17, 2008 7:59 pm:
CS wrote on October 17, 2008 9:05 pm:
CS wrote on October 17, 2008 9:39 pm:
kelly 33 wrote on October 17, 2008 10:09 pm:
He's simply a childish controller. He's proven this time and again. Let's remember his tantrums next time we vote, please? "
Joe Smith wrote on October 17, 2008 10:11 pm:
JB wrote on October 18, 2008 3:53 pm:
Big Red Redneck wrote on October 18, 2008 8:51 pm:
CS wrote on October 18, 2008 10:04 pm:
Husker Patriot wrote on October 18, 2008 11:12 pm:
CS wrote on October 19, 2008 1:23 am:
Liz wrote on October 23, 2008 8:26 am: