Green, Nass renew call to UW to fire 9/11 conspiracy professor

Associated Press | September 27 2006

Comment: Wasn't it the case in V the series that the scientists and professors were the first ones head-hunted for the thought crime camps?

A Republican lawmaker and a gubernatorial candidate renewed their call Tuesday for the University of Wisconsin-Madison to fire a part-time instructor who believes the U.S. government orchestrated the 9/11 attacks.

The calls by GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Green and Rep. Steve Nass of Whitewater came after they learned a UW-Madison academic unit was sponsoring a lecture on Sunday by Kevin Barrett titled "9/11: Folklore and Fact."

The event is tentatively scheduled from 2:30-4 p.m. Sunday in the Social Sciences Building, Room 6210.

Barrett said the British Broadcasting Corp. is expected to film the lecture as part of a story on those who share the view that U.S. government officials, not terrorists, were behind the attacks.

The UW-Madison folklore program is sponsoring the lecture. It will also feature 9/11 Truth leader James Fetzer, who has similar views as Barrett.

The university's decision to allow Barrett to teach a course this fall, "Islam: Religion and Culture," touched off a firestorm of controversy over the summer.

UW-Madison Provost Patrick Farrell decided to retain Barrett for the course after reviewing his plans and qualifications, but later warned him to stop seeking publicity for his personal political views.

"Rather than stick to their guns and fire Kevin Barrett for openly defying university policy again, the administrators at UW-Madison have, once again, refused to put a stop to this charade," Green said in a statement.

Farrell said Tuesday that it was appropriate for the folklore program to sponsor the lecture even though it will bring publicity to Barrett's views.

"My understanding is that he's followed the rules, got a sponsor and plans to present something that the department feels is appropriate," he said.

Students have so far enjoyed Barrett's class, Farrell added.

Barrett said his talk would focus on research into how folklore studies methodology can be applied to look at the movement of those who question the official version of the attacks.

Like other folk groups, the movement spreads its message creatively and makes a major distinction between insiders and outsiders, he said.

"What I'll be doing is purely academic and something people can appreciate regardless of their political persuasions," he said.

He said supporters of his views have raised $8,247 and plan to present it to the university during the lecture. That's the amount that Barrett is scheduled to earn this semester - and how much the Ozaukee County Board cut funding for UW-Extension to protest.

Farrell said he would tell them to give the money directly to UW-Extension or to the school's private foundation for student scholarships.

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