Lawmakers want college instructor fired over 9/11 theory

``I still have every expectation this will be a very positive educational experience for our students," Farrell said Thursday. ``Some are upset about Mr. Barrett's viewpoints on 9/11 and don't want to pay much attention to what makes for a quality educational experience."

Representative Stephen L. Nass, a Republican, said the lawmakers' letter, which called Barrett's views ``academically dishonest," sends a strong message to top UW leaders.

``When 61 legislators condemn a decision by UW-Madison and demand the dismissal of Kevin Barrett, the leadership of the UW System operates at its own peril if it continues to ignore views of the taxpayers," Nass said in a statement.

Nass was ``only interested in name-calling and witch hunting," Barrett has said.

The state Assembly last week refused to take up a proposed resolution, supported by Nass, that calls on university to fire Barrett, who will be paid $8,247 as a part-time instructor this fall.

In Colorado, another professor has been under fire for an essay likening white-collar victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi high official and a key planner of the Holocaust.

University of Colorado officials concluded professor Ward Churchill could not be fired over the essay because of free speech protections, but they launched a probe into alleged misconduct. A faculty panel concluded he committed research misconduct, and university officials have said he should be fired . He has appealed.