Bill Ayers to speak at FSU

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Vietnam War-era radical and Chicago professor Bill Ayers is scheduled to speak at Florida State University, an invitation that has rankled area conservatives.

Ayers, a member of the Weather Underground, was mentioned repeatedly during the presidential campaign for his ties to President-elect Barack Obama.

Obama and Ayers both served on a Chicago school reform board and a foundation board. Obama has denounced Ayers' violent past and said Ayers was never involved in his campaign.

Republican students plan to protest at Monday's talk. State Rep. David Rivera called the invitation "a disgrace." A conservative blogger sent university leaders an online petition.

Ayers is set to talk about education reform.