Pat Dollard

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Boston Herald:

BC nixes invite to former radical
Students hope to host William Ayers off-campus

By Marie Szaniszlo

Boston College yesterday abruptly withdrew two student groups’ invitation to former radical William Ayers to speak on campus Monday.

A BC spokesman said he was unaware of the plan for the controversial figure to speak on campus until contacted by the Herald yesterday afternoon. But students last night were scrambling to hold the speech off-campus.

“After meetings between administrators and students, the decision was made to rescind the invitation,” spokesman Jack Dunn said. Dunn declined to say why, adding only, “We feel the appropriate decision has been reached.”

Dunn, director of public affairs, indicated he was unaware that Ayers had been invited to BC when first contacted by the Herald yesterday. Student organizers who had confirmed the speaking engagement in the afternoon called back shortly afterward to report it was canceled.

Ayers was a founding member of the violent radical-left anti-war group the Weather Underground, which was blamed for a series of bombings that killed several people. Ayers, though a fugitive for several years, was not directly implicated in those attacks. Federal riot and bombing conspiracy charges against him where later dropped, The New York Times [NYT] has reported.

Ayers figured in the 2008 presidential campaign as conservatives criticized Barack Obama for his association with the former radical.

Ayers, a professor of education at the University of Illinois, Chicago, was due to speak at Boston College on education reform and civic engagement at the invitation of Americans for Informed Democracy and the College Democrats. Ayers could not be reached last night, but before the decision was announced, he said: “This isn’t Saudi Arabia or Cuba. Speech is something we believe in in a democracy.”

The event was to be co-sponsored by Boston College’s Clough Center for the Study of Constititutional Democracy, whose director could not be reached.

But student organizers reached last night said they want to try to hold the speech off-campus.

“All of us who have put a lot of hard work into planning and defending this event are really disappointed because we had hoped this would be an open academic forum for someone who’s widely respected,” said College Democrats member Melissa Roberts, 21. “We’re going to make sure this respected academic gets heard.”

Director Blue:

NAPERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT 203
Message sent – 3/27/2009
Statement regarding proposed Ayers visit to NNHS

We have received numerous emails and phone calls regarding the proposed visit of UIC professor Dr. Bill Ayers to speak with Naperville North High School students next month, with permission from their parents.

While we firmly believe in exposing students to a wide variety of speakers and opinions, offering them the chance to experience different viewpoints and the opportunity to hone their critical thinking skills (one of the tenants of our mission), please know that we would never invite anyone who advocates violence. Our understanding is that Bill Ayers does not, although this point is being actively debated by several who have contacted us. In addition, administrators from other school districts who have heard his presentation to students, have indicated that Ayers focuses on students being involved in social justice.

Given the interest this has stirred in the community, and the strong emotion and anger that is being expressed, we are currently reviewing this decision and are also exploring options for changing the venue. For those who have expressed concern over funding this, it should be noted that Dr. Ayers was never being paid for this visit.

Once a decision has been made, we plan to update parents of Naperville North students on this issue via Talk203.

Alan Leis, Superintendent of Schools
Naperville School District 203

But parents and the community aren’t as “open-minded” as the a**hole who booked this f-head a**clown to speak hoped or ASSumed they would be:

Illinois Review:

Weather Underground exposed

If you’ve got some time this weekend to watch this excellent, rather left-sympathetic documentary on the Weather Underground, you’ll be reminded why parents at Naperville North are up in arms. Word tonight is the phone calls have been pouring into the school administration and mayor’s office, and unrepentent domestic terrorist Bill Ayers may be uninvited from addressing the students next week.

As I understand it, our own beloved a**-kicker Bev Perlson (Band of Mothers) continues to make life and fame tough for Ayers … heh!

Bev, carry-on, hun …

Contact the Naperville Community Board Of Ed. here.

And contact the principal of Naperville North High School here.