" Mr Perlman acted correctly. It was indeed a safety issue. Aside from that, the majority of Nebraskans did not want Mr. Ayers to speak on campus.The faculty should realize that, and climb down from their ivory tower to where the rest of us Nebraskans live. "

" Of course this story would never die. There certainly could be danger from the visit, if the comments on this site have taught us anything. "

" You professors need to descend from your ivory towers and join the real world. Remember the famous philosopher wrote " certifiction in a field of performing simple stupidities does not entitle you to universal knowledge". "

" I'm glad some other people know what Freedom of Speech is. I still think it's funny that there are individuals out there who wanted to use threats of violence on Ayers. You think he is a Terrorist, and then you want to become one yourself. "

" Wonderful! This is a proper and needed approach to explain many of the unansered questins reasonable people have had regarding the shortcomings and lack of transparency by NU's administration Excuses to date have been shallow and unconvincing. "

" Yeah....like these same left-wing "faculty leaders" would feel the same way if it was Michael Savage instead of a terrorist. "

" Give it up people. If you want this man to speak so bad then have him at a private venue. Not on a public place. We have to keep the State Fair thing going heck why not this. It will never end. This country is its my way or know way. Im sick of hearing about this find a new subject. "

" Further proof that tenure leads to ignorance of the real world. One day stories of all the cuts the university will have to make and the next a story about the faculty wanting to throw away how much money? These fools need to experience the REAL world once in awhile and get their heads out of the sand! "

" is the world worse or better of now that he did not speak? "

" This guy spoke here at Georgetown with no problems. "

" I think they should call for an investigation of how an unrepentant domestic terrorist got an invite to speak in the first place. His past actions violated more than the "academic" freedoms they're carping about now. "

" They can probe until their heart's content. The decision to cancel was the correct move. Inviting a terrorist to speak at UNL in the first place is the real controversy. "

" While I understand the need for academic freedom, I think this investigation is nothing but a waiste of time and money. In my opinion, Ayers should be in prison, not serving as a keynote speaker for anything. I know plenty of other opinions exist so I am not basing this comment on that opinion. But, the fact that so many opinions exist coupled with the fact that Ayers was, at the time, subject to more publicity than he'd seen in decades, increased the odds that something could have gone awry. This should affirm the validity of the chancellor's decision. In all likliness nothing more than protests would have occured. But, had the event gone on and something bad occured, we would be talking about a whole different kind of investigation. "

" I'll never understand the arrogance of some of the professors at the University of Nebraska. Some of these people are so 'elite' that they believe that they SHOULD have been consulted with before this cancellation? If anything in this state needs restructuring, it is at the University from the faculty to the administration. Most of these people have spent their entire lives in the library and teach students such as myself the best way to become an entrepreneur among other things? What this is, is not about free speech. These instructors are all about 'free speech' until you disagree with them. Then they try and belittle you and SILENCE you. Make sense? "

" Keep wasting time and money on this stuff, profs, then wonder why your budgets are getting cut. You people are so out of touch it's amazing. "

" 'sullemon' wrote: "Remember the famous philosopher wrote " certifiction in a field of performing simple stupidities does not entitle you to universal knowledge". "

Uh, no, I don't remember. Being one of those 'ivory tower' professors, I have some familiarity with 'famous philosophers', and I've never heard this. Got a name?

I'd hate to think you just made it up. "

" Ironic that people can't come to the table for a conversation with out wanting to hurt a person (or persons) by threating violence. Shouldn't there be an investigation into those threats. I have not heard of anybody being prosecuted for making threats. A threat is a threat and should be treated equally with any other threats. If Mr. Pearlman was to give a speech and was met with threats, I wonder what would be done with the person making those threats. I bet that there would be someone prosecuted. A person making threats toward a person with a negative past is met with violence today seems so third world. Not knowing any thing this person has done with his life to better the academic community since the 60's and 70's. Listening and then giving there rebuttal towards his opionion seems more civilized. "

" Perlman, in order to save money for the lean times to come, could start by ridding UNL of dead weight in the form of professors who have so much time on their hands (because TA's teach their classes) that they can't see past their own overinflated egos. He should stop only when he sees professors spending time teaching classes that they are assigned to teach. "

" What? No investigation needed. He's a creep, UNL is a publicly funded University and 99.9999% of the public did not want him speaking because of his morals and past conduct. Why waste time on an investigation. Those that are calling for it should be fired if they are employees of the University because they clearly lack the common sense and understanding required to function in society let alone teach. "

" Freedom of speech means there are no boundaries for the university and taxpayers have to pay for it. And they can't speak against it either. "

" I would like an investigation into the people who invited Ayers. They are obviously so out of touch with the people of the state. "

" The auto makers, the major financial institutions, in fact the national economy in general is going down the tubes, yet UNL keeps growing year after year. Having no responsibilities is a wonderful thing. "

" There was an article just yesterday about the University needing to cut their budget. Where is the money for this investigation coming from? Guess they're gonna have to shut down a lot of computers and unscrew a lot of light bulbs. "

" Great. A bunch of letters from people who have no idea of the role that academic freedom plays on a college campus. If you're a tax payer, you have some right to veto or threaten any ideas that the majority of Nebraskans wouldn't like. As for Ayers - It's no longer about having HIM speak - it's about everyone's idea that speakers need to pass some sort of vote or litmus test. Like it or not - the guy was voted "Citizen of the Year in Chicago", is a full Professor and published author in education, speaks all over the country without this redneck response. I'll bet most people posting about the arrogance of the faculty did not go to college. "

" I'm sorry but I don't believe that our tax dollars should be spent on some home grown terrorist who has a violent criminal past where people got hurt speak his mind at our state funded university. I'm NOT suggesting YOU can't hear him speak. If those of you who want to pay the expenses to hear what he has to say, then fine. Go raise the money, rent a hall somewhere, and pay Ayers his speaker's fees to hear what he has to say. I just don't to hear whatever HE has to say at OUR school. Mr. Perlman did the RIGHT and RESPONSIBLE thing. If you don't like it, be a grown up and deal with it. "

" Common sense is why they cancelled it...get over it! "

" Go get 'im GH. While you and I have disagreed on things here, and probably do on this issue, I absolutely detest unattributed quotes, or even worse, those made up of nothing at all. 10 pages of googling and I haven't found it yet, either. "

" It doesn't matter what 'a majority of Nebraskans want' or don't. A majority of Nebraskans are not students, nor would have been in attendance at the speech, nor would have had any interest in the subject matter. It's a fine line between 'unrepentant terrorist' and, say, world leader-it is all a matter of perspective. Your opinions of his prior conduct are what they are, but have nothing to do with what he was speaking about. The University's mission is to the students that attend, not every yahoo that lives in Nebraska. "

" A couple of months ago the LJS ran a story about a study that ranked Nebraskans high in terms of being outgoing and friendly but very low in terms of being open-minded. The threats -- physical and financial -- that led to the cancellation of Ayers' speech is another example of Nebraska's short-sighted intolerance of others. It's one reason our best and brightest students leave the state. "

" I suggest the professors do their job--teach!! It really does not matter what they think. "

" Academic freedom is truly something to be protected and guarded, however in this case it was fair and right to stop Dr Ayers visit for safety reasons. Perhaps the Academic Senate should pass a resolution to encourage faculty to collaborate with their police department more closely when planning events with controversial figures to avoid placing their leaders in such awkward positions in the future. "

" Let the story die already.
Nobody would have known that he was scheduled to speak if it wasn't for the presidential election. Please stop drinking the Republican Kool Aid by the gallon. Half of the people who post their hard core right wing views/Nebraska Republican Values fall more in the category of the "lunatic fringe" than Mr. Ayers does.
By the way, he isn't in jail because of the always ethical Nixon administration. "

" Who is paying for this investigation? "

" "Freedom of speech" is also the "Freedom to Listen" and tp decide for "yourself". I still wonder what radical thoughts Ayers has on "Education"? Any persons who made "threats of violence" should be put where Ayers hasn't been, in jail. "

" Thank you to "Lincoln Taxpayer wrote on December 3, 2008 9:14 pm:
" Common sense is why they cancelled it...get over it! ""
That is correct! The "intellectuals" cannot possibly grasp that concept as it is in such short supply in their group!
These people should actually utilize their education and go out into the real world and apply that knowledge, and thereby LEARN what is meant by "common sense". "

" Aren't the opportunities provided in education (of any kind) supposed to expose you to new things, open your eyes? Not in NE...here we close our minds and our doors. It saddens me that we are so rash and intolerant. I'm glad someone on the faculty spoke up. My tax dollars are paying for programs like Scarlet and Cream to be cut and opportunities lost. As a University student, I would hope that I would be afforded an educational and open-minded experience...not a judgemental and biased education. "

" Why are we still talking about this - Ayres has been to Lincoln once. Lets move on - is this a slow news day? If you want to hear him speak so badly, check his calendar and go to his next lecture - There are far more important issues than this one - pick your battles - the media has given this far more coverage than it deserves. "

" sounds like those against Ayers speaking are the real terrorist. all this mess about the safety of the campus. and it wasn't as if Ayers was coming with bombs strapped to his chest. let him speak about education research, and quite down all the name callers contradicting themselves by threats of violence on the innocent.

and have some faith in the justice system after all isn't this quite the turn around for someone to make. from being such a radical criminal to come to terms and begin working with the government for better education should be celebrated. "

" Everyone knows academic freedom means liberal views only. None of these teachers would be so inviting to a conservative speaker. "

" The fact that these far left reaching liberals who happen to teach at UNL who believe THEY are the only ones who can be right and "NOISY" and have their knickers in a twist is THEE reason I want my son to leave this campus. It is Not a healthy environment, it is Not anything at all that I want my child to learn. While this man was involved in bombing of buildings in the country I love, I was hard at work on a military base. The two don't meet. Oh, I was also volunteering for the Red Cross assisting our newest refugee members that people jeered at, despising me and those who cared. Well, yes, it hits a nerve.

Laws are made to be abided to. Ayers did not. I don't want my son learning he can pick and chose which laws he will abide by. Even IF we don't agree with them.

You know, this whole morality thing has gone by the wayside in our society. If it is opposite of truth, opposite of "normal", opposite of appropriate....then the "intellectuals" (I question the validity of that) on staff at UNL who are raising ires here think they are on the fringes of something new.

That, is what I call civil disobedience and they are wanting to esteem it as educational freedom? And we are paying big bucks for their "stage" for their personal agendas?

Tisk. "

" To the person who said '99.9999% of the public did not want him speaking because of his morals and past conduct,' just so you know, with the Lincoln population (or the population of any city under a million people), 99.9999% is all but a fraction of a person. And even if we round down, it sure looks like there are more than 2 people who did want him to speak. Just so you know. "

" The faculty are missing the point. This had nothing to do with Ayers and Academic Freedom, but rather the safety of the University. "

" after reading these posts, and noting that the majority are taking potshots at their states institution of higher learning and the people who work there....it is no wonder Nebraskans have a reputation as a bunch of hicks. Congratulations people....you have once again show that Nebraskans are neither friendly, open-minded, or humble. "

" Dianne said " I suggest the professors do their job--teach!! It really does not matter what they think. "

Dianne-I wish it were that easy. I am a college professor myself, and a good portion of my job is not even teaching related. We do have to serve on committees that have nothing to do with the teaching part of our jobs, but the functions of the institution we serve at. We also may have to advise student organizations, and be expected to attend non-academic functions if we want to look good for promotions.

Also, if it didn't matter what we professors think, then academic freedom might as well be buried forever, because we are the subject matter experts. If we are not allowed a voice into how our subjects are taught, then this country might as well as expect to become the economic wimp it should be because we'll graduate people who learned their subject matter incorrectly because administrators who have no idea what the subject matter was decided what would be taught and how. "

" All I want for Christmas is for this story to go away. Can we put a fork in this PLEASE! "

" Oh,the faculty senate wakes up and yawns, does it? What Twain said of Congress applies to the faculty senate--that benign old institution . . . for the senile and the helpless. . . . "

" To Disgusting - if your son and the rest of the UNL student body don't know the difference between right and wrong by now, I doubt if listening to a speech by someone you personally disagree with is going to help or hurt them much. I see people picking and choosing which laws to obey every day (speeding, not signaling turns, illegal right turns on red, etc) and I don't see you complaining about that. "

" If Nebraskans can't handle freedom of expression or don't want the presentation of ideas or opinions that deviate from popular opinion then maybe a University isn't what the state needs. You need more Community Colleges that train you to "do" rather than to "think" and you need to invite "Joe the Plumber" as your keynote speaker. "

" Sounds like Georgetown University in Washington, DC had no problems. Maybe not enough "right winged reactionaires" there? "

" I find it ironic that a visit by a former domestic terrorist, was cancelled because of threats of violence, by real life, current, Nebraska terrorists. "

" Flip the equation, and see if you'd be saying all of the things you've said if one of the Minute Men border patrolers or as an earlier poster said, Michael Savage. The left wing reactionaries would be going nuts (as they have in the past at Columbia U, when the minute men spoke). Take off your blinders JUST FOR ONCE. "

" I think UNL should reschedule his speech and add extra security. Anyone who tries to disrupt the event with attempts of violence or threats of violence should be prosecuted as a terrorist. Send them to Gitmo. If they don't like the First Amendment, they should not live in this country. "

" When you squelch anyone from speaking their mind its a path to Nazi-ism. No one is the person they were in the 60s and Ayers is a legit educator and one of the best. Its nothing but small mindedness that stopped him from speaking and robbed a lot of listeners of his talk of new ideas. The academic community is not beholden to the majority of citizens for what they say and do. I believe its "academic freedom" and its damned important in keeping a democracy a democracy. Perlman was way out of line and should be reprimanded in some way. "

" JB is utterly wrong. John Bolton, one of the most divisive non-appointments by the Bush Administration and a staunch conservative, spoke at UNL a couple years ago as part of the EN Thompson Forum. It seems the only outrage over speakers comes from rightwingers when people like Ayers or Michael Moore (2004) are invited to speak. "

" If Ayers name wouldn't have come up in the election nothing more would ever have been said. He would have came to town, spoke and left without any incident. You can call him a terrorist and make any asumptions that you want, this was all politically motivated...period. In the next atricle about bringing in new and great profs and students stop and think about what your saying on this suject now. Top profs and student want to go where they can be who and what they are, not stiffled by conservative state leaders. Mike I really doubt 99.99999 % of the public was against this guy speaking, but spout any numbers you can to make your point seem valid. "

" When Sarah Palin or Hillary Clinton came to Omaha to pursue their political agendas, public funds in the form of Protection and Safety workers were used to ensure their safety. The University of Nebraska uses public and private funds for educational purposes that include personalities from many different camps of thought. The use of public funds in both situations is perfectly acceptable. Just because political egos are pricked does not mean that Palin or Clinton should not have spoken in Nebraska. The same thing can be said of Mr Ayers visit.

As for the constant ranting of the Law and Order crowd, William Ayers was discharged from legal pursuit because of the misconduct of Prosecutors. Instead of examining the offenses of the Justice System that LEAD to Mr Ayers release from custody, they instead blindly call him names and insist he is a criminal and a terrorist. Mr Ayers is not in jail because of the failure of the Justice System to behave in a manner reflective of its name and purpose. If you desire a "justice system" that ignores or condones the misconduct of the Goverment, there are many countries still available for you to go and live. As for my country, I would prefer a Justice System that is worthy of the name. "

" The sad part is that I do believe that if Joe the Plumber really did come to speak here, that there would be droves of Nebraskans in attendance. "

" Listening to some of the statement's is outrageous! This shows a part of Nebraska's barrel of closed minds. Mr Ayers was never prosecuted or jailed for anything that took place over 40yrs ago, so why are we judging him today. Maybe if he was a Husker Football player he would be accepted!
Per the previous article, and correct me if I'm wrong it stated some of the major donors did not want Mr Ayers here and if he did they would stop the proceeds. I guess we know who really runs the University system. "

" There ought to be a probe as to why they invited him in the first place "

" Ayers name was brought up by Sen. Clinton. "

" A left wing "reactionary"? Like calling someone a right wing "radical"! Different ends! My son goes to UNL and I want him to be expose to diverse thoughts, even radical ideas about "Education"! "

" 'John Bolton, one of the most divisive non-appointments by the Bush Administration and a staunch conservative, spoke at UNL a couple years ago as part of the EN Thompson Forum. It seems the only outrage over speakers comes from rightwingers when people like Ayers or Michael Moore (2004) are invited to speak.'

Divisive = OK.
Killing = not OK. "

" It was right wing radio talk shows that made such a big thing of Ayers. As everyone knows, they don't know what they are talking about. "

" How would we feel if this guy were invited to speak here?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/05/BAVM14H16D.DTL
Of course, it would be great. All of those people opposing Bill Ayers' freedom of speech are just great with approving of torture.
But notice how much more civilly it is handled at a real college. "

" What "radical" ideas does Ayers have on "education"? No summer vacation? How many people can actually say they have heard Ayers talk? Can you believe what Rush and his buds say? "

" I am a college student at NWU. I also happen to know many UNL students. I also have to say that I do not know of one student at either school how thought that Bill Ayers speaking at UNL was a big deal. All of the students I know were either cool with it or excited to hear him speak. His speech was, after all, for the students, and I'm very glad to hear that the students at UNL are investigating the cancellation. Best of luck you guys. "

" A good piece by Bill Ayers in today's NY Times giving his perspective on the construction of hysteria in regard to his relationship with Barack Obama during the recent election campaign. That some citizens of Nebraska got swept up in that hysteria is understandable; that state and university leadership did is inexcusable. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/opinion/06ayers.html "

" I didn't even know who Ayer's was until Palin mentioned him in her campaigns. I would have liked to have heard for myself exactly what kind of person he is from his own mouth. Won't happen in Nebraska.

It's like someone's kid calling in a bomb threat so that school gets canceled for at a day. Don't parents usually want the child caught and punished appropriately? That's what all of us citizens in Nebraska want done to the individuals whom threatened the University and it's students because of one man. The staff faculty that ultimately chose to cancel the invitation due to threats upon the school, staff, and students whom invited Ayers should be congratulated on the protection of the campus. Yet, if it was due to the fact that faculty staff made the decision based on donations and funding being pulled then that should also be a punishable act. Education should not have a price. Some students did not want Ayers to speak and some did, it should have been the students decision to attend or not.

Parents who send they're children to college should believe that the University of they're choice is doing it's best to give you're child the rounded education you're child needs to make the best decisions they can for themselves. If you want you're child to be closed minded then you may hold their hand throughout the rest of their lives and decide who teaches them and interacts with them, but you are really doing them harm by not allowing you're child to be them self. They are students and old enough to do whats best for them.

The students should have discussed it amongst themselves and did what they thought was best. Ayers was invited and most students either didn't care or didn't even know who he was, so it was going to be okay as far as the University knew. That should have been the end of it, but it wasn't. I hope that those who made serious threats and have heard there will be an investigation feel as scared as a terrorist in a cave. The people who threatened the school with lack of donations and funds should just feel ashamed and guilty for what they did. I'm sure none of the guilty will though. They just justify it with their own ideals like a true terrorist. "