Conservative author and political commentator David Horowitz will speak about academic freedom at Penn State tonight, following a protest held by the College Democrats.

Horowitz's book, The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America, hit shelves on Feb. 13 and included two Penn State professors -- senior lecturer in sociology Sam Richards and professor of English Michael Berubé -- in his compilation of academics who pose a threat to education.

There will be a book signing at the Penn State Bookstore in the HUB-Robeson Center today before Horowitz speaks tonight in HUB Alumni Hall.

Horowitz said he plans to talk about the Academic Bill of Rights and inform students about what they should expect from teachers.

"It's important to take political agendas out of the classroom. ... Students get robbed of their education dollars, and professors use the classroom as a political soapbox," he said. "I hope I get to meet Dr. Richards."

Horowitz and Richards spoke over the phone on Radio Free Penn State Tuesday night. Horowitz criticizes Richards as unqualified and Marxist.

Richards said Horowitz admitted Tuesday night that he does not know what goes on in Richards' class and would not give a straight answer to what he could do to make himself qualified to teach his class on race and ethnic relations. "He gets wound up and won't stop. I couldn't get a word in edgewise," said Richards, adding that he does plan to attend Horowitz's speech tonight.

Penn State College Republicans are sponsoring the event. Former College Republicans chairwoman Vicky Cangelosi said the group has been trying to get Horowitz to speak here for months, even before his book came out.

Cangelosi said he sparked the group's interest because members knew he is a good speaker and a conservative author. Alumni Hall holds about 300 people, and Cangelosi said she believes it will fill, if not exceed that number.

College Republicans chairman Seth Bender said the goal is to bring about more discussion on academic freedom.

"We can relate to him and what he says," he said. "We want to create an atmosphere where people can hear what he has to say."

Penn State College Democrats are holding a press conference in protest of the event at 6:30 tonight on the steps of Pattee Library. Members of the College Democrats, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Penn State and the Undergraduate Student Government will speak, said Eliot Schmidt, College Democrats spokesman.

Schmidt said as a group, they are skeptical of the type of academic freedom Horowitz is advocating. Academic freedom states that professors should have the freedom to be able to say whatever they want in the classroom, and Horowitz wants to limit what they can say, he said.

Schmidt added that the protest should last about 45 minutes so members can attend Horowitz's speech and possibly ask him questions at the end.

"It depends on whether he wants to talk to us or not," he said.

College Democrats President Alex Smith said he wants to ask Horowitz what his qualifications are for coming to Penn State and telling 40,000 students what they should be learning.