William Ayers, a controversial figure during President Barack Obama's rise to the White House, will be speaking in Lancaster County.

Ayers, at one time a radical anti-Vietnam activist called a "terrorist" by his opponents, is a distinguished professor of education and senior university scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

He will give the Anna Funk Lockey Lecture at 7 p.m. on March 19, in the Lehr Room of Gordinier Hall at Millersville University.

Ayers teaches courses in interpretive and qualitative research, urban school change and teaching and the modern predicament, according to information about him posted on the Millersville University Web site.

Jane Bray, dean of the School of Education, said Ayers was chosen because of his "outstanding work," in the field of urban education.

"The School of Education is in the process of revitalizing their urban education concentration for pre-service teachers and was pleased to have the opportunity to have such an outstanding advocate join them to discuss ways to connect with urban students, parents and teachers," Bray said in an e-mail this morning.

The controversy around Ayers stems from his past. He helped found the Weather Underground in the 1970s.

The militant, anti-Vietnam War group bombed several public buildings including the Pentagon. Ayers spent 10 years as a fugitive before turning himself in. Federal charges were dropped.

Obama was criticized during his campaign because he had served on several boards with Ayers.

This week, Ayers spoke at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, Calif., attracting protesters and an audience of about 600, according to news reports.


Staff writer Robyn Meadows can be reached at rmeadows@LNPnews.com or 481-6025.