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Controversial Professor William Ayers made an unpublicized visit to the Georgia Southern University campus Tuesday to give a lecture on curriculum and writing.
Entitled “Diving into Life: Writing into Contradictions,” Ayers spoke at the College of Education. Ayers also came to Statesboro to serve on a GSU student’s dissertation defense committee as an external prominent scholar.
Ayers is a professor at the University of Illinois in Chicago in the College of Education and considered an expert on curriculum in education. He remains a controversial figure for his involvement as the co-founder of the Weather Underground, a radical group that bombed public buildings and monuments in the 1960s and 70s to protest the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War.
Ayers was invited to speak at GSU last spring by the Multicultural Advisory Council, but protests by alumni and students prompted officials to cancel his speaking engagement. At the time, university officials cited excessive security costs as the reason for the cancellation.
Officials with GSU’s Marketing and Communication Department said they were unaware of Ayers’ visit since this is a non-university sanctioned event.
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November 04, 2009 - 09:05 AM
This is disqusting and shame on anyone who would welcome this man into our city and into our childrens lives. SHAME! You are dang right it was unpublicized, because someone knew this WOULD NOT STAND!!!!
November 04, 2009 - 10:11 AM
Diversity in education is one thing, stupidity is entirely different. Who/Whom ever approved such a visit should be fired immediately and reminded this is South Georgia not Chicago, Ill. Shame is only understood by those who understand class; liberals understand neither.
November 04, 2009 - 02:37 PM
How ridiculous to refer to college students as children. Higher education is about expanding critical thought and being exposed to new ideas.
November 04, 2009 - 02:56 PM
Explain how domestic terrorism relates to "new ideas" or "critical thought". The mayor needs to get out in front of this in hopes of distinguishing between GSU entertaining a domestic terrorist and Statesboro entertaining a domestic terrorist. Make no mistake, this was calculated and purposeful. The Dean and President of GSU should both be fired, as well as any faculty envolved in going against the wishes of students, faculty, and community.
November 04, 2009 - 03:26 PM
Oh yes, I should be ashamed of expanding my mind and evolving as a human being. Ye without sin cast the first stone. We already let a war criminal speak in Statesboro, George W. Bush.
Im so glad I dont have to be surrounded by the stupidity of the uneducated periphery of Georgia Southern aka 'Old Statesboro'. Thank God, they are quickly becoming a minority as free-thinkers are moving to the city in droves.
November 04, 2009 - 04:19 PM
Yeah, W was about as much of a war criminal as....well...Obama. He is sending troops in as well, and hasn't withdrawn one. So drop your lefist talking points.
This is not about trying to stifle different points of view. There have been plenty of people speaking from all kinds of political/racial/ethnic backgrounds, and not one person has tried to stop it.
But having this guy on our campus is basically condoning the killing that he and his group did years ago.
Bring any view point you want to the GSU campus, just don't bring admitted terrorists.
November 04, 2009 - 05:33 PM
As a conservative, Republican GSU student who ACTUALLY attended this "controversial" lecture, I can assure you that he mentioned nothing of his past and everything he said was positive and enlightened. He spoke on the challenges associated with teaching and the focuses of doctoral research. I am by no means condoning what he did during the Vietnam protests nor do I believe 40 so odd years should clear him of his record, but as a history/political science major (with intent to become a teacher someday), I could not miss an opportunity like this. Just because I went to hear him out does not make me a supporter. Instead, I took advantage of a chance to see a important (no matter how controversial) historical American figure first hand and possibly learn something from him...isn't that the point of higher education?
November 04, 2009 - 05:56 PM
Conservatives are typically tolerant and open-minded, yet when we disagree with a liberal we are called undeducated, we aren't evolved, or we aren't free thinkers. Conservatives live in the south for a reason, it is a place of value, history, heritage, and a belief system built on principle and faith. Some things aren't going to be compromised.
November 05, 2009 - 07:20 PM
Actually GSUFAN24, the Weathermen never killed any bystanders with their bombs. The only lives that were lost by their activism were those of other Weathermen who were caught in the premature detonation of one of the bombs. Ayers' visit had nothing to do with his past, and was a great opportunity for students writing their dissertations to listen to a visiting professor. The past is the past, let it be.
November 05, 2009 - 10:57 PM
"Actually GSUFAN24, the Weathermen never killed any bystanders with their bombs. The only lives that were lost by their activism were those of other Weathermen who were caught in the premature detonation of one of the bombs."
Is this suppose to make what he did any better? Just because no one was killed, we should just give Ayers a free pass for detonating bombs on government buildings? His insane actions could have easily killed people and he knew that. Ayers obviously didn't care.
A terrorist is still a terrorist even if they live 100 years after their deplorable crimes. Not to mention he has been quoted by The New York Times in 2001 saying that he felt his "group" didn't do enough and he wouldn't rule out the possibility of doing it all again.
Drewboo, you don't have "to be surrounded by the stupidity of the uneducated periphery of Georgia Southern" because you are free to leave this area anytime you like. Let me know if you need any help moving because I would be glad to help you pack.
I would hope that the majority of the people around Statesboro are at least smart enough to avoid condoning the actions of a domestic terrorist by pulling the Bush card.
GSU is going to lose future donations because of this so I hope the visit was worth it.
November 09, 2009 - 06:49 PM
Hear it straight from him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMya1k...
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