Bill Ayers expressed discontentment with the administration of Georgia Southern University after the Monday cancelation of his lecture scheduled for March.
“I find it outrageous on the part of the administration,” Ayers said.
An official campus statement of cancelation was issued Monday, and the university said Ayers was notified by phone the same day.
“It seems that they have bowed and caved into the will of a mob,” Ayers said. “And if they did that, they should be ashamed.”
The University attributes the cancelation to the possibility of nearly $13,000 in security expenditures—expenses the Vice President of Student Affairs Teresa Thompson said would disrupt university operations.
Some students complained about their student fees going to the event and responded by creating Facebook groups, commenting on GADaily.com, and sending e-mails to the university’s administration. “I don’t think an unrepentant domestic terrorist should be allowed to speak on our student fees, especially in this economy,” said Junior Luke Parks. “It’s not about ‘free speech’ so much as it’s more about ‘fee speech.’”
Prior to the cancelation of the event, Multicultural Student Center Director Consuela Ward said $1,585 of Student Activity Fees was going toward the event.
“I’m not bringing him because he’s a Weathermen; I’m bringing him to talk about access to education for students,” Ward said.
Dixon Smith, an alumnus from the 1980s said the cancellation was no triumph for free speech.
“That said I am delighted that this angry, violent man is not receiving student funds and will not spread his version of the truth at my Alma Mater,” Smith said. “However, rejoicing in this man’s silence reeks of censorship.”
Ayers said he was delighted to speak to students at Saint Mary’s College on Jan. 28 amid protestors who demonstrated outside the event and interrupted his speech. No violent actions occurred during his visit.
Saint Mary’s President Ron Gallagher told the Contra Costa Times that “to live up to our great tradition, we must remain an academic community where the free and open discussion of ideas, even those with which we strongly disagree, is possible.”
Because Saint Mary’s is a private school, it was not required to disclose the expenses of the Ayers event.
“[Saint Mary’s] stood for academic freedom,” Ayers said. “Your administration did not show courage. It responded with cowardice.”
Senior Lance Sullivan, who joined one of the Facebook groups, said he was happy the event was cancelled.
“Bill Ayers may be a respected professor and author to some people now, but that doesn’t excuse the horrible acts he has committed in the past,” said Sullivan.
Ayers has spoken at GSU in previous years, mainly in conjunction with GSU’s education department.
“As a doctorial student in Curricular Studies, I’m disappointed,” said Professor Mark Mohr. “I have talked to him several times, and every time, it has been a joy.”
Ayers is on Mohr’s doctoral committee and has been on dissertation committees for GSU students pursuing doctorial studies since 2003.
“To silence a noted education scholar from speaking is a real loss for our students and our democratic educational process,” said Mohr. “I wish another solution could be found for the benefit of the university and those who want to learn.”
Professor of Curriculum Ming Fang He also worked closely with Ayers and said she was disappointed with the “distortions and insinuations perpetrated against him.”
He said the university has not informed faculty members and students across campus about the official cancelation of the Ayers lecture.
“Many of our doctoral students and faculty members are still looking forward to Professor Ayers’s lecture on March 2, 2009,” said He. “Canceling Professor Ayers’ lecture is not merely a loss of an inspiring educational opportunity, nor only a matter of academic freedom, but a violation of human rights.”
Bill Schubert, a friend of twenty years and colleague of Ayers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said “in view of the controversy over Bill Ayers’ invitation to speak at GSU [that] it is important that his twenty years of contributions to education -- inspiring educators to do good work -- be known.”
Terry Sanders, a GSU alumnus from the 1970s said she is very proud of her school for canceling his visit.
“He is the same person he was 35 years ago and is attempting to legitimize himself and his actions through his position in higher education,” said Sanders.
Thompson said the recent increase in local controversy surrounding Ayers also had no bearing on the decision to cancel, but Ayers questioned the reasons why his lecture was canceled.
“The administration is telling you, you have a right. At the same time, they’re telling you, you don’t, by canceling,” Ayers said. “Don’t you find that hypocritical?”
The university maintained that the increased cost for security, in conjunction with over $500,000 in cuts for Student Affairs, made the speaker enviable.
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