More Idiotarians on Campus

Earlier, I blogged about a Central Michigan University professor who describes terrorists in Iraq as "freedom fighters". Today, I found a professor from the University of Colorado who makes even the loonies at the Democratic Underground (mostly) curl their toes. Ward Churchill, professor of Ethnic Studies at CU and chairman of the department, is featured in this article from The Rocky Mountain News regarding his statements that the 9/11 victims were not innocent. Money quote:

"As for those in the World Trade Center," the essay said, "well, really, let's get a grip here, shall we? True enough, they were civilians of a sort. But innocent? Gimme a break."
The essay goes on to describe the victims as "little Eichmanns," referring to Adolph Eichmann, who executed Adolph Hitler's plan to exterminate Jews during World War II."

This article was brought about by a protest against Churchill speaking at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. I guess my question would be: why aren't people in Boulder protesting against having him on campus every day? Or are they too busy protesting about other things that matter to them more? I understand academic freedom and all that, but still, this is a state school... is this really the kind of professor the Colorado Regents want teaching their students? Or is this just another case of CU being irreemably depraved, especially compared to the virtue of paragon that is Nebraska football? (Believe it or not, that last sentence isn't sarcastic; as a native 'Husker, I actually believe it.)

Update 1342 28 Jan: Via Instapundit, here's Opinion Journal's take on the kerfluffle. While you're there, check out Best of the Web if you haven't already.

Update 2139 31 Jan: Campbell has resigned his department chairmanship, but not his professorship, at CU as a result of the controversy. Has he learned anything? Doubtful, based on this excerpt from the link:

"In his statement released Monday, Churchill protested what he called "grossly inaccurate media coverage," which had "resulted in defamation of my character and threats against my life. What I actually said has been lost, indeed turned into the opposite of itself," Churchill stated.
"The essay, On the Justice of Roosting Chickens, wasintended to make the point "that we cannot allow the U.S. government, acting in our name, to engage in massive violations of international law and fundamental human rights and not expect to reap the consequences."
"Denying that he is a "defender" of the September 11 attacks, Churchill said, he had simply been "pointing out that if U.S. foreign policy results in massive death and destruction abroad, we cannot feign innocence when some of that destruction is returned.
"I have never said that people "should" engage in armed attacks on the United States, but that such attacks are a natural and unavoidable consequence of unlawful U.S. policy. As Martin Luther King, quoting Robert F. Kennedy, said, 'Those who make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable'."

Update 1507 02 Feb: CU Ethnic Studies professors tepidly back Churchill, most other public officials call on him to resign, from this FoxNews story.

Update 1509 03 Feb: As Glenn says, this one's got to hurt.