Ayers says UNL shouldn't have canceled his speech

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10484924

Published Wednesday November 12, 2008

Despite threats against him and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, William Ayers says UNL shouldn't have canceled his speaking engagement this weekend.

"I thought we should stand together and refuse to accede to these kinds of pressures," says Ayers, the Chicago-based education professor and 1960s anti-war activist, who became a center of controversy in this year's presidential campaign.


William Ayers


"I wouldn’t force myself on the college, of course," he told The Omaha World-Herald, "but I felt that canceling would send a terrible message to students, bring shame to the university, and be another step down the slippery slope of giving up on the precious ideal of a free university in a free society."

• For full details, see Wednesday's Omaha World-Herald.


Archive of World-Herald Ayers-UNL stories: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10484645

I'll post a follow up when it is available.

[progressoid]

1. Hmm, me thinks Bill hasn't spent much time here.

I'm frankly surprised that UNL took so long to cancel.

[kansasblue]

2. UNL tried to sell it as a 'security issue'.

I think I read a Regent was telling people to stop giving to the U if they had Ayers

[aikoaiko]

3. Oh well. nt.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. There's something seriously wrong in America and I think it's called right wing ignorant @$$holes nt

[norepubsin08]

5. Amen Sister!!!

[davidinalameda]

6. colleges cancel speakers all the time

like Ayers

he's controversial and no one wants to touch him right now despite Obama winning

if he had an audience, like Ms. Coulter who in my opinion is more controversial, they wouldn't have cancelled him