UIC professor draws national attention
Joel Ebert
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: News
Media Credit: University of South CarolinaLast week, a Presidential debate called into question the relationship between Sen. Barack Obama and UIC Prof. Bill Ayers.
In last week's Democratic presidential debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Obama was questioned about his ties with UIC Professor Bill Ayers. Media attention surrounds Ayers's involvement with Obama, including a $200 donation Ayers gave Obama's campaign in April 2001; their mutual involvement on the board of the Woods Fund of Chicago, which seeks to give opportunities to less advantaged communities and individuals in the Chicago area; and the extent of their relationship, with both being Hyde Park residents who have visited each other's homes.
Ayers, once famous for his involvement in the 1960s group the Weather Underground, received his doctorate in Education and has been employed by UIC since 1987. He is currently a Distinguished Professor of Education.
Due to the extreme rise in media attention and his being out of town, Ayers could not be reached for any comments regarding the media coverage.
According to UIC Associate Chancellor Dr. Mark Rosati, speaking on behalf of the University, "Dr. Ayers has very strong credentials as a teacher and a scholar." He has been a part of various academic panels, discussions, and debates, as well as served as director and founder of many different foundations and workshops in the surrounding Chicago area. Ayers was even defended by Mayor Daley in a statement last week when he said that Ayers "is a valued member of the Chicago community."
Students of Ayers reflect a similar sentiment to that of Dr. Rosati and Mayor Daley. Manu Raghavan, a former student of Ayers, says that he is a "researcher, a smart and kind man, and receptive to new ideas. And if that is not the idea of being an academic, someone ought to define it."
Time will tell whether Obama's ties to Ayers continue to be an issue in the current Presidential race; Raghavan does not believe the issue will be of any significance.
"Look at the supporters; they seem to look past it. They are made up of diverse individuals who are willing to forgive meaningless personal contrivances because they are willing to look at his central ideas," said Raghavan.
|
Ayers, once famous for his involvement in the 1960s group the Weather Underground, received his doctorate in Education and has been employed by UIC since 1987. He is currently a Distinguished Professor of Education.
Due to the extreme rise in media attention and his being out of town, Ayers could not be reached for any comments regarding the media coverage.
According to UIC Associate Chancellor Dr. Mark Rosati, speaking on behalf of the University, "Dr. Ayers has very strong credentials as a teacher and a scholar." He has been a part of various academic panels, discussions, and debates, as well as served as director and founder of many different foundations and workshops in the surrounding Chicago area. Ayers was even defended by Mayor Daley in a statement last week when he said that Ayers "is a valued member of the Chicago community."
Students of Ayers reflect a similar sentiment to that of Dr. Rosati and Mayor Daley. Manu Raghavan, a former student of Ayers, says that he is a "researcher, a smart and kind man, and receptive to new ideas. And if that is not the idea of being an academic, someone ought to define it."
Time will tell whether Obama's ties to Ayers continue to be an issue in the current Presidential race; Raghavan does not believe the issue will be of any significance.
"Look at the supporters; they seem to look past it. They are made up of diverse individuals who are willing to forgive meaningless personal contrivances because they are willing to look at his central ideas," said Raghavan.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 10
Former UIC Student
posted 4/21/08 @ 5:13 PM CST
Thought it would be nice to remind everybody about Ayers's famous 1970 statement, "Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home, kill your parents, that's where it's really at. (Continued…)
cynical fox
posted 4/21/08 @ 10:37 PM CST
So apparently he's a nice professor and he's smart. Nothing else matters, right, when judging a person and his life?
uic doc student
posted 4/22/08 @ 3:12 PM CST
Sometimes there is honor in radicalism. Think about the death and mayhem that Bill Ayers was protesting forty years ago. His extraordinary commitment to social justice now, as a professor and mentor to those of us who are lucky enough to know him, simply confirm his passionate actions of the past. (Continued…)
Bill (not Ayers)
posted 4/23/08 @ 3:25 PM CST
I would like to recognize Joel Ebert as the Flame's second most biased columnist this year. (Michael Griffin gets first) Way to only report one side of this story. (Continued…)
Never going to be a UIC student now
posted 4/24/08 @ 12:02 PM CST
Here is an excerpt from an article on Ayers, check out this link for the full copy.
http://www.city-journal.org/html/16_3_ed_school.html
The readings that Ayers assigns are as intellectually stimulating and diverse as a political commissar?s indoctrination session in one of his favorite communist tyrannies. (Continued…)
Gregory Pratt
posted 4/24/08 @ 2:18 PM CST
While I do not doubt that Bill Ayers is a bright man who is generally good to his students (intellectually and personally), I can not trust a man's judgement or intellect who is sitting around waiting for "the revolution to break out. (Continued…)
NA
posted 4/24/08 @ 4:51 PM CST
Given the state of classroom security these days, I find it appalling that someone with a history of bombing government owned property now is allowed to teach in a government run school. (Continued…)
Post a Comment