Provost to Instructor: Stop Seeking Publicity

http://nbc15.madison.com/news/headlines/3485607.html

3:03 PM Aug 3, 2006

MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ The provost at UW-Madison has warned a controversial instructor to stop seeking publicity for his opinion that the U.S. government orchestrated the September 11 terrorist attacks.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press through an open records request, Provost Patrick Farrell also warns Kevin Barrett to stop associating himself with UW-Madison when he's promoting his controversial views.

Farrell tells Barrett that if he doesn't do what he's been asked, he would reconsider his decision to allow him to teach a course on Islam this fall.

The letter was sent ten days after Farrell decided to hire Barrett as a part-time instructor, despite objections. Sixty-one state legislators have denounced the hiring.

Farrell reviewed of Barrett's course plans after he gave a radio interview in which he said he planned to teach students his views on September 11. The provost concluded Barrett was qualified to teach and he could present his ideas during one week of the course, as long as students were allowed to challenge them.

But the letter shows Farrell became frustrated with how Barrett handled himself during the media frenzy that followed.