EMU: Kwame Kilpatrick speech not a university-sponsored event

[alp227]

Source: Ann Arbor News

Following last week's announcement that former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will speak at Eastern Michigan University, the school has clarified that the event is not university sponsored.

"The appearance of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is not a university-sponsored event and the university is not providing any funding to Mr. Kilpatrick. Similar to many universities, Eastern has a policy allowing student organizations to determine programming based on their own interests and agenda," a statement released by EMU said.

Kilpatrick — recently released from prison and facing federal charges — will launch a lecture series by a student group called Black Leaders Aspiring for Critical Knowledge. The speech is at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 at EMU's Student Center in Ypsilanti.

"Eastern Michigan University supports more than 200 student organizations, representing a variety of interests and viewpoints. University policy is to encourage recognized student organizations to invite speakers to campus in the spirit of free exchange of ideas and to promote the timely discussion of a wide variety of issues," EMU's statement said.

Read more: http://annarbor.com/news/emu-kwame-kilpatrick-speech-not-a-university-sponsored-event/

[appleannie1]

1. Two of my grandsons graduated from there. The don't normally sponsor anyone, but do encourage their

students to explore many different interests just as they said in their statement. Other students can attend or not attend. It is individual choice.

[Psephos]

4. The students are "exploring" the offerings of a narcisstic, parasitical felon.

He wrecked what little was left standing in Detroit.

I support the students' freedom to choose a speaker, and EMU's tolerance of it.

But I have no problem criticizing the students' cravenness and see it as nihilistic and deeply offensive.

[IamK]

2. I guess the sponsor group is interested in learning how to have affairs, or one of the topics below.

Funneling of state grant money to wife, Preferential hiring of friends and family, Perjury, Assaulting a police officer,tax evasion, mail fraud,stripper parties, bumping off strippers who were at the parties, Obstruction of justice, etc..

He seems like an odd choice unless you want a real life Soprano...

[BadtotheboneBob]

3. 'Hizzoner' is widely loathed throughout the state...

... due to his history of graft, theft, 'pay to play', bribery, perjury etc etc during mayoral tenure. He will soon face numerous charges in Federal court. His cronies are scrambling to make deals with the Feds. Hardly a day passes without new revelations of his malfeasance published in the Detroit papers. The man is a disgrace and shameless.