I found the list (now boasting over 4,000 signatories) and extracted from it all those from Western New York colleges and universities.

Apparently, one person on the list didn’t appreciate my efforts to inform the public of their support for Ayers and wrote me a lengthy letter, which I am posting and responding to below. I am not going to publish the name school of the professor who contacted me… unless I am so motivated to reveal that information later.

Well thank you “BIG BROTHER” for enlightening us with your article titled “Western New York Educators” Who Support Terrorist Bill Ayers.” You sound like someone who has emerged from the McCarthy era when you say in your article, “I cross checked this list of WNY colleges and universities with the pro-Ayers signatories.” What does it matter to you that educators sign petitions to support Professor Bill Ayers? Is he running for President of the United States of America? Are any of the learned Professors who signed the petition running for President of the United States of America? The last time I checked I was born and reared in the United States of America. I believe that makes me a citizen and I’m free to express myself whenever and however I please.

Apparently it is Orwellian to take publicly available information and repost the portions of it that are most interesting to me. Go figure. What does it matter to me that educators sign petitions to support Bill Ayers? The answer to that is simple. It has nothing to do with the 2008 presidential election. It has everything to do with Ayers’ past terrorist activities — which are unforgivable. I am not questioning the right of any American to express their support of Ayers. I am questionng their judgment, their patriotism, and whether they should be trusted as educators.

I believe Bill Ayers, in the 1960s made horrendous mistakes, but since has redeemed himself. He has since contributed positively to society. Obviously, since he has authored many books, he does not have the time to sit around, conjuring up blog websites, and making “witch hunt” lists. I have never met Bill Ayers, nor do I have a personal relationship with him or any other terrorist groups or organizations. Therefore, I do not LOVE TERRORISTS!

In 40 years, will Americans so easily write off the 9/11 terrorist attacks as a mere mistake by those who planned it? Could Osama bin Laden or Khalid Sheikh Mohammad ever redeem themselves for their roles in the attacks?

Initially, I also believed that Senator Barack Obama’s relationship with Ayers needed clarification. However, in the third Presidential debate, he so eloquently described it, and denounced what Ayers did when the Senator was eight years old. That should be enough.

During this dishonorable Presidential campaign that has been run by the candidate in the party that you support, you have neglected to focus on actual issues that are troubling our country at this very moment, and have devoted your attention to insignificant, inconsequential, irrelevant, superficial matters such as listing names of Western New York Professors and trying to establish a link between them and a figure that has no bearing on this Presidential race nor Capital Hill. Maybe it is the kind of flippant and nonchalant attitude that smells in your article, is what has millions of American crying out for “Change.”

Again, my reasons for compiling the list has nothing to do with Barack Obama or his relationship with Ayers. It has to do with the educators who publicly expressed their support for Ayers, a man who still feels he didn’t do enough to attack America.

But since we’re on the subject of “domestic terrorists” I have a few for you; most of whom had affiliations with your party! Does that make you and your colleagues terrorists, hypocrites, and bigots? Bill Ayers may have conspired to bomb the Pentagon but let’s not forget some real life historical domestic terrorists acts;

This professor went on to list various criminal acts during the Civil Rights Era which she ignorantly (and incorrectly) assumed all had affiliations with the Republican Party. But the issue here isn’t about Ayers’ party affiliation. It is about his actions. I would never sign a statement in support of someone who committed terrorist acts against my country. But, I guess that is the difference between me and the now 4000+ educators who declared their support for Ayers.

And I would never allow a child of mine take a course taught by someone who did.

No length of time would change my mind.

The statement, amongst other ridiculous things, says the following:

The current characterizations of Professor Ayers—“unrepentant terrorist,” “lunatic leftist”—are unrecognizable to those who know or work with him. It’s true that Professor Ayers participated passionately in the civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s, as did hundreds of thousands of Americans. His participation in political activity 40 years ago is history; what is most relevant now is his continued engagement in progressive causes, and his exemplary contribution—including publishing 16 books— to the field of education.

So, according to these educators, bombing the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon is no different from non-violent and peaceful protest. These educators have voiced their support for a man who belonged to a domestic terrorist group that not only carried out bombings. but planned Nazi-esque re-education camps and genocide had they succeeded in taking over the government.

So which Western New York professors signed their names in support of Bill Ayers? I cross checked this  list of WNY colleges and universities with the pro-Ayers signatories. A large number of those who signed did not specify which school they teach at, so the list below only includes those who indicated their school.

Alfred University (2)

1. Thomas V. Peterson
2. Emrys Westacott

Brockport SUNY (2)

1. Sue Novinger
2. Marsha Ducey

Canisius College (0)

Daemen College (2)

1. Laura Watts Sommer
2. Christian Brandjes

D’Youville College (0)

Empire State College (3)

1. Nancy Berggren
2. Jill Hamberg
3. Alan Mandell

Erie Community College (0)

Fredonia State College (4)

1. Mira Tetkowski Berkley
2. Amy Chavez
3. Clara Beier
4. Kathleen Magiera

Genesee Community College (0)

Hilbert College (0)

Houghton College (1)

1. Mark LaCelle-Peterson

ITT Technical Institute (0)

Jamestown Business College (0)

Jamestown Community College (0)

Medialle College (0)

Nazareth College – Rochester (0)

Niagara County Community College (0)

Niagara University (1)

1. Carmen Montgomery

Rochester Institute of Technology (1)

1. Jean A. Douthwright Ph.D.

St. Bonaventure University (0)

State University of New York at Buffalo (10)

1. Lee Albert
2. P. Rudy Mattai
3. Susan Vivian Mangold
4. Bruce Jackson
5. Katherine Hart LaVail
6. George A. Barnett
7. Jim Holstun
8. Nathan J. Claes
9. James G. Milles
10. Fenice B. Boyd

State University of New York at Geneseo (2)

1. Leigh M. O’Brien, D. Ed.
2. David A. Granger

Trocaire College (0)

University of Rochester (0)

Villa Maria College (0)