MONADNOCK 9/11 TRUTH ALLIANCE Steering Committee: James G. Smart, Professor Emeritus (KSC), Keene; George Corette, Alstead, Radio Talk Show Host of Empire Watch (WKNH); John D. Wyndham, Ph. D. Physics, Peterborough; Alei Verdi, concerned citizen, Keene; Justin A. Martell, Founder Student Scholars for 9/11 Truth, Franklin Pierce College; Mark Lathrop, Chairman NH Hemp Council & proprietor of the Monadnock Hemporium, Keene; Gerhard Bedding, Science Writer/Teacher (Ret.) Keene; Mike Casner, Peterborough, Radio host of the 9/ll Truth Hour (WKNH); Gary Davis, concerned citizen, Spofford; Jack Meagher, Engineer, Structure Problem Solving, Peterborough; Lynn Pierce, concerned citizen, Keene; Harry Bubb, Graphic Artist (ret.), Winchester; Michael Jackman, Student Scholars for 9/ll Truth, KSC; Fair Galey, grandmother and activist, Alstead; Prof. George Michaelides, Economics, Ret. FPC, Keene.

As a result of Jackman’s name appearing at the bottom of this ad, he received a letter personally signed by the president of Keene State College, the letter read as follows:

Dear Mr. Jackman:

I am writing to you because I have been notified by Chancellor Steve Reno of a contact made to his office regarding the advertising of an essay contest regarding the destruction of the Towers in New York City on 9/11. I have obtained a copy of the advertisement from the Manchester Union Leader of September 11, 2007.While you are perfectly within your rights to associate with any organization you choose, any use of the Keene State College name implies an affiliation with the College and requires approval from me. In the future, please refrain from using the Keene State College name for associations which are your personal choice.Thank you.Sincerely,Helen Giles-Gee
President Keene State College

Cc: Dr. Stephen Reno, Chancellor

“Let us say that the ad had been for the Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama campaigns, and on the bottom it had the names of those who published the ad, and it read “Mike Jackman, The Hillary Clinton Campaign, Keene State College…you know it wouldn’t be an issue,” exclaimed Mike Jackman after receiving the letter. “I mean, this is a total violation of freedom of speech, freedom of association, and academic freedom…the letter almost seemed like a warning! This is all very reminiscent of what happened to Bill Woodward.”

Bill Woodward is a tenured Professor of Psychology at the University of New Hampshire (another New Hampshire State school) who went under fire in the summer of 2006 for publicly expressing his doubts about the government’s official account of 9/11 and becoming a member of the then new organization, Scholars for 9/11 Truth (Scholars for 9/11 Truth originally served as the parent organization of Student Scholars for 9/11 Truth) . The Woodward controversy went all the way to the Democratic Governor of New Hampshire, John Lynch, who joined the state’s Republican Congressmen and Senators in calling for Woodward’s dismissal when he released a public statement in which he said that Woodward’s association with Scholars for 9/11 Truth “raises serious questions about Woodward’s competence.” Attacking a professor for his political beliefs is one thing, but those who now intend to extend this witch hunt to the students of New Hampshire State Colleges have taken it too far.

“I find it outrageous that a student leader of an organization committed to discovering the truth about the most important event in recent American history. Should be denied the benefits of freedom of speech and academic freedom for which the institution properly stands. These forms of abuse, alas, appear symptomatic of a growing intellectual fascism paralleling the political fascism that Mike Jackman and his associates are seeking to combat,” commented professor emeritus and founder of Scholars for 9/11 Truth, Dr. James Fetzer.

From the looks of it, this issue is far from over. The ad was run again this morning, this time in the Keene State College official newspaper. Mike Jackman made it clear that he is willing to consider various options if he is further harassed as a result of the ad in today’s paper, “I will not hesitate to contact legal council and ACLU, if necessary,” he said.

Prominent members of the 9/11 Truth Movement have also voiced their concerns about the letter. When brought to the attention of Jason Bermas, producer of the hit film Loose Change, he expressed his doubts as to whether the president of Keene State College had any right to issue Jackman the letter to begin with. “First thing’s first, I would like to see anywhere in the Keene State College code of conduct that says Mike Jackman has violated any rules. Regardless of whatever organization Mike Jackman is a member of, he should be allowed to state the university he attends,” Bermas said.

Dr. David Ray Griffin, author of the New Pearl Harbor commented that, “The president of Keene State College, instead of trying to stifle discussion of 9/11, which suggests that she fears that the official story cannot stand up to scrutiny, should encourage this kind of free and open inquiry which educational institutions are supposed to foster.”

Dr. James Fetzer has seen individuals in the academic community singled out for seriously questioning the government’s account of pivotal events in history, first with the JFK assassination and now 9/11. He concluded his thoughts on the issue by saying, “The Student Scholars group represents the highest traditions of American society and should be supported not condemned, encouraged not restrained, and by all means allowed to educate the American people as to the truth about this administration.”

Many individuals get angry when a dissenting voice rattles their perception of an event that they eagerly put behind them as they followed the Bush Administration’s orders to “go shopping.” When thinking about all those like Mike Jackman, who have been singled out by all those afraid to voice their concerns in a public forum in this post 9/11 madness, a quote by Mark Twin comes to mind, cited often, but nevertheless, very appropriate: “"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."