[lbryce]

Mr. Kennedy is president of Merchandise Mart Properties, which owns Chicago's landmark trade-show facility and others across the country. Last year, he considered a run for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by President Barack Obama. He said at the board meeting that he was unable to support Mr. Ayers because his "body of work includes a book dedicated in part to the man who murdered my father."

"His politics were really irrelevant and shouldn't have entered into [the board's] decision," said Elliot Kaufman, a recently retired professor who served with Mr. Ayers on the university's Senate Executive Committee, which represents the faculty. Mr. Kennedy "should have recused himself from the issue. He tried not to make it terribly personal but come on, it was a personal issue for him…he had a conflict of interest and his statement, I thought, influenced the other board members. I didn't think the process was right."

Aren't all liberal, left-wing minded attitudes, determined on the basis of emotionalism?

[shalom aleichem]

I find that university repugnant because they gave this slime a job 23 years ago. He should still be in jail. He is not fit to teach anyone anything.

[muawiyah]

Kennedy's position was well reasoned and if he'd pulled out a pistol and blown Bill Ayers brains out on the spot I'd hope good luck would put me on his jury ~ so's I could turn him loose.

Alas, Bill Ayers wasn't actually on the scene.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks lbryce. Here's something one doesn't often see around here -- BRAVO FOR MISTER KENNEDY.

The rejection has drawn support in hundreds of messages to the university and newspapers. "I must ultimately vote my conscience," Mr. Kennedy said in his remarks to the board before the vote Sept. 23. "And I would ask anyone who challenges my judgment, how could I do anything else?" ...Ayers[']... request for the honorific -- which carries no perks beyond library access -- was approved by a series of faculty organizations before it reached the 12-member board. After Mr. Kennedy spoke, board members voted unanimously to reject it... Several trustees didn't respond to requests for comment. Thomas Hardy, spokesman for the University of Illinois, said he was unaware of any other professor who had been denied the title. At the Sept. 23 meeting, the board voted on 16 professors up for emeritus status; only Mr. Ayers's request was rejected.

About time. WtF was Ayers teaching at the U of Ill in the first place, whacko?

[isom35]

Here’s a motivational poster idea: a picture a Ayers with the caption “Who does a guy have to blow up to get professor emeritus these days?”

[purplelobster]

“which carries no perks beyond library access”

Ayers should be kept out of the library. You never know when he will start planting bombs again.

[cookcounty]

"This week, faculty members will begin formally debating whether to ask the board of trustees to reconsider the vote. "

These people would vote to honor Adolph Hitler. Universities have become a sick joke.

[Fitzy_888]

“I must ultimately vote my conscience,”

...as opposed to?

[April Lexington]

"His politics were really irrelevant and shouldn't have entered into [the board's] decision,"

His politics murdered people! What is wrong with this leftist idiot? They should deny this asspipe, too!

[W. W. SMITH]

The only reward he should receive is a six foot deep hole, and that is at least forty years past due.

[Tzimisce]

So the guy who blew up government institutions in the 70’s now mooches off those institutions and cries when they don’t give him free money.

It truly is Obamaland....

[BradyLS]

"His politics were really irrelevant and shouldn't have entered into [the board's] decision," said Elliot Kaufman, a recently retired professor who served with Mr. Ayers on the university's Senate Executive Committee, which represents the faculty. Mr. Kennedy "should have recused himself from the issue. He tried not to make it terribly personal but come on, it was a personal issue for him…he had a conflict of interest and his statement, I thought, influenced the other board members. I didn't think the process was right."

Then Ayers should not have asked for emeritus status from a group with whom he had a conflict of interest, either.

[Sakity Yaks]

The board of trustees voted last month to deny Mr. Ayers the honorific of professor emeritus

Awww, poor baby.

[Texas Eagle]

The board of trustees voted last month to deny Mr. Ayers the honorific of professor emeritus after its chairman, Christopher Kennedy, argued that the title shouldn't go to a man who was co-author of a book dedicated to about 150 political figures—including his father's assassin.

The rejection has set off a lively debate across the state and reopened 40-year-old wounds.

Interesting take. Evidently if Ayers HAD been awarded the honor, those 40 year old wounds would have not been re-opened. The death of Christopher Kennedy's father notwithstanding, eh, Mr. Belchin'?

[Gabrial]

Ayers now hides behind the police he once tried to kill.

An eternity in hell awaits this piece of human garbage.

[Texas Eagle]

"His politics were really irrelevant and shouldn't have entered into [the board's] decision," said Elliot Kaufman, a recently retired professor who served with Mr. Ayers on the university's Senate Executive Committee, which represents the faculty. Mr. Kennedy "should have recused himself from the issue.

Apparently Ayers did not dedicate the book to any "political figures" (ahem!) who killed any of Mr. Kaufman's gay lovers.

But what if he had?

[Texas Eagle]

Assassins are considered "political figures"???

This from The WSJ? Disgraceful.

[GeronL]

The controversy is that the man wasn’t in prison the whole time.