Fla. Univ. Students Pay Author for Speech

[maddezmom]

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Student groups paid for an author critical of President Bush (news - web sites) to speak after Florida Gulf Coast University's president tried to delay the visit until after the election.



President William Merwin decided to delay Terry Tempest Williams' visit after reading the author's book, "The Open Space of Democracy," in which she criticizes Bush. Merwin said he feared funding a partisan event with state money and noted the speech, as originally planned, would have been part of a mandatory program for freshmen.
~snip~

Student groups, including the College Republicans as well as the College Democrats, contacted Williams and offered to pay her lodging, meals and publisher's expenses if she would speak Sunday as planned. Williams agreed, waiving her $5,000 speaking fee.


"Oppression of any kind depends on obedience," she told a crowd of 300 students. "Thank you for your very civil disobedience."

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=718&e=4&u=/ap/20041025/ap_on_re_us/author_university_speech

:)

[donsu]

1. hooray for the students of Gulf Coast Univ.

fighting back for america

[JoFerret]

5. Congratulations to the College Republicans

.

[GoSolar]

2. Excellent !

Thanks to these students!

[annabanana]

3. Good for them!!!

Their folks should be mighty proud of them! And good on Williams for waiving her fee.

[UpInArms]

4. gives a whole new look to

freedom of speech and the freedom of democracy

:D

Good on you, Terry Tempest Williams!

and to the student body :yourock:

[truthisfreedom]

6. "OBEY!"

"dammit! cripes! obey! now! whimper! why was i never elected? not even once?" bush. such a loser.