As Kevin Barrett continues to publicize his crackpot theories and the University of Wisconsin continues to defend, albeit grudgingly, his academic freedom, the Ozaukee County Board has quietly but decisively launched a punitive campaign against the University of Wisconsin system:

PORT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Ozaukee County Board has voted to cut funding for next year's University of Wisconsin-Extension program by the amount paid a University of Wisconsin-Madison lecturer who contends that the U.S. government orchestrated the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The move to cut $8,427 from the program was approved 18-11 Wednesday, and board member Joseph Sopko of Belgium - who co-authored the resolution - said he planned to contact all 71 other county boards to urge them to adopt the same resolution.

"I might have a chance in 70 of them. I don't know about Dane County," said Sopko, who is a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard and returned in September from a two-month stint in Afghanistan.

The move concerns part-time UW lecturer Kevin Barrett. University officials decided last month after reviewing his records and course plans that he would be allowed to teach a course on Islam.

David Giroux, spokesman for UW-Extension in Madison, said the resolution was aimed at the wrong target.

"The only people who will be harmed by this kind of cut in Ozaukee County or any other county will be our local 4-H kids, local farmers, local families, local businesses, local communities," he said.