The Duquesne Duke

Issue date: 2/25/10 Section: News

A street along the west side of Heinz Field is named after former CIA director and Duquesne University Alumnus Gen. Michael V. Hayden.

Duquense University English professor Greg Barnhisel is petitioning the City of Pittsburgh to remove a street sign on the North Side that honors the former head of the National Security Agency and CIA under President George W. Bush's administration.

Gen. Michael Hayden, whose actions Barnhisel considers "beyond unethical," oversaw the wiretapping of U.S. citizens after Bush passed the USA Patriot Act in October 2001. He served as NSA director from 1999-2005. When he was appointed as the director of the CIA in 2006, the agency used techniques such as waterboarding and extraordinary rendition, which Barnhisel characterized as "torture."

Hayden's brother Harry Hayden, of Westview, told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review that the petition is "political talking points and spin."

"My brother served his country for 40 years," Hayden told the Trib.

The sign designating the street as "Gen. Michael V. Hayden Blvd" is on the west side of Heinz Field. Barnhisel said he first noticed the sign while taking his children to the Carnegie Science Center in Fall 2009.

"When I saw the sign, I couldn't believe the city would honor Gen. Hayden, knowing what we know about him," Barnhisel said.

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl renamed the street in 2008 to honor Hayden's military service and his connection to Pittsburgh. Hayden is a native of the North Side and Duquesne University alumnus.

Hayden retired from the Air Force in July 2008 after serving 41 years left his post as CIA director in February 2009.

Barnhisel filed a petition for a public hearing on Dec. 20, 2009. A City Council hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m., March 1. Barnhisel will speak at the hearing.

Barnhisel said he has not received any "flak" for his position, adding that he has received support from friends, community activists and some students. He stressed that he is acting as a private citizen and is keeping the petition separate from his job by not mentioning it in his classes.

One person who is scheduled to speak at the hearing, Scilla Wahrhaftig, said she did not know about the sign until Barnhisel brought it to her attention.

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