Led by Christopher Kennedy, son of slain 1968 U.S. Presidential candidate Robert Kennedy, Bill Ayers was denied the honorary emeritus faculty status at the University of Illinois today.
Christopher Kennedy, one of the University of Illinois trustees delivered an impassioned plea to the other board members in Urbana, Illinois to reject Ayers. Kennedy, who was four years old when his father was assassinated, said that he cannot and will not honor a man who has written a book – “Prairie Fire” - that was dedicated to the man who killed his father, Sirhan Sirhan.
Long before being controversially politically-linked to President Barack Obama during his run for the presidency in 2008, Bill Ayers had a controversial political past which included his radical Vietnam War associations back in the 1970s. He was a co-founder in the well-known, controversial Weather Underground anti-war group.
Bill Ayers is one of the best-known educators at the University, yet the entire UIC board sided with Kennedy's opinion that Ayers should not receive the honor. The board members unanimously denied Ayers the honor of emeritus faculty of UIC. In fact, there are many who don't believe the now-retired faculty member should have ever been hired by and associated with UIC.
Some at the University feel that Ayers has an educator resume that is far above and beyond others who have achieved the emeritus status and believe that Kennedy’s personal opinion against the man should not have entered into the decision. However, many others feel that it would be extremely incorrect for the Illinois institution of advanced learning to honor a man with a political past such as Bill Ayers has.
Source: Tribune
Comments
I love the irony of this story. Biill Ayers admires the murderer of Robert Kennedy and the murdered's son denies Ayers any honors. Absolutely and appropriately ironic.
It is great that Kennedy stepped forward in the name of his murdered father to deny Ayers this honor. How could Ayers even think it would be granted. How dillusional he must still be.
I don't understand what Ayer's did against Kennedy's son. He wrote a book. Does that mean anyone who ever writes a book about a controversial figure that isn't in line with popular opinion should have to suffer for it?
If his past was the reason, then just say so. However, its unfortunate that a person's past should impact their current academic contributions.
Kennedy's son's comments should be irrelevant. Its almost like these arguments are trying to link him to the murder or something.
Anonymous: Ayers "dedicated" his book to the murderer of his father.
This is recockulous. What is it about this country that doesn't allow people to see past the loudest and most obnoxious opinions about people. Yes, Dr. Ayers co-authored a book that was dedicated in part to Sirhan Sirhan, but the actual dedication was to "all political prisoners in this country." It's not like Ayers said, "High five, way to go, Sirhan, you showed him whose boss" but because those who hold Ayers past against him are the loudest and most often heard all we get is the negative aspects of Dr.Ayers work. Ayers educational philosophy in part is that a teacher is "working in opposition to the given world' and it is a shame that this belief isn't more widely held, otherwise we might not have to have this conversation about whether or not he deserves emeritis status, we would be applauding an educator for his contributions to the field.
No, you have it wrong, that is exactly what Ayers is doing in his book. Hes a piece of **it!
I am so happy to hear that Bill Ayers, that terrorist and murderer, did not recieve the Emeritus Status. He actually makes me sick to my stomach and I cannot believe that he actually teaches at UIC.
he didnt murder anyone get yourr facts straight before you write about someone
To consent to a murder is an evil thing.......bill ayers just doens't understand that anarchy leaves a void that only a worse evil will fill......mankind is the problem ...not the economic system he wishes to destroy
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