According to recent reports, Illinois state Rep. Charlie Meier has introduced legislation that, if successful, would prevent public universities from hiring convicted terrorists to fill teaching positions. While such a bill might seem unnecessary at first blush, it is actually Meier’s response to the University of Illinois’ penchant for adding terrorists to its staff.
The school’s Chicago campus infamously hired Bill Ayers, the man who confessed to his role in several Weather Underground bombings, in 1987. Though Ayers was never convicted, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has twice hired the same man — James Kilgore — who was convicted of murder for his role in the death of a customer during a 1975 bank robbery.
“He was convicted of terrorism against America and a second-degree murder charge,” Meier explained.
Kilgore was associated with the Symbionese Liberation Army and, following the murder, escaped to South Africa where he lived under an assumed identity until his extradition in 2002. He ultimately served six years in prison and, following his release, joined the university’s staff.
Though Kilgore was later fired, the school recently rehired him.
Meier – a graduate of the University of Illinois – explained that this particular incident is the basis for his bill, noting that the university has seen a marked decrease in donations following its recent action.
“So once again our taxpayers are going to have to help cough up the millions that the university is not being given,” he reasoned.
Meier concluded that the basis of his bill should be – but isn’t – a common sense idea.
“It’s disappointing that it had to come to this,” he said, “that we have to spell out that terrorists shouldn’t be teaching our kids. But unfortunately that’s a reality we face.”
h/t: IJReview
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This post originally appeared on Western Journalism - Informing And Equipping Americans Who Love Freedom