I. Alaska Public Radio's Steve Heimel, producer of the award-winning program Talk of Alaska, has informed me that he has opened up the November 3rd slot on TofA for any possibility of a debate or discussion that involves University of Alaska President Gen. Mark Hamilton and University of Alaska Fairbanks Associate Professor Rick Steiner. Steiner has invited Hamilton to "debate with me, openly and publicly, re: the issue of academic freedom, and the influence of corporate donations to the university."
Hamilton in an email to Steiner Sunday, wrote, in response to Steiner's debate invitation, "Dr Steiner, you have peaked my interest. Mark."
What Hamilton meant, until we know more, is debatable. But you can encourage him to accept APRN's generous offer, by calling his office at (907) 450-8000, or by emailing him at sypres@alaska.edu.
II. Should Gen. Hamilton refuse to debate Steiner on this, either at the APRN venue, or elsewhere, or should he simply refuse to acknowledge any of the interest in this issue, Progressive Alaska and others will probably try to organize a statewide and national effort to try to get the National Association of Scholars to rescind the 2002 award they bestowed upon Gen. Hamilton for promoting so-called "Academic Freedom."