Take notice
Bringing the Rev. Jesse Jackson to campus to speak Tuesday at Rose Arena is one of the best things that could happen to the university and its students.
And CMU's Speaker Series committee should take notice.
Jackson is a highly-respected civil rights activist, and with Michigan voters' recent decision to abolish affirmative action in public institutions, his visit is very timely because diversity has been a hot button issue at CMU ever since Election Day.
Controversy sells, and few things have been more closely scrutinized than the way CMU has handled diversity, especially since the election. That's why Tuesday's speech has the potential to draw the largest non-sports crowd on campus since more than 5,000 people filled Rose in Sept. 2004 to see extreme liberal filmmaker Michael Moore.
Jackson's visit could even eclipse that number and completely fill Rose. Not only is the speech free for students, but Jackson is a much more recognizable figure than Moore. After all, Moore makes movies. Jackson ran for president in the '80s.
CMU's Affirmative Action Office, Student Government Association, University Recreation, On The Fly Productions, Institutional Diversity, Volunteer Center and Minority Student Services all are donating funds, which will total about $20,000, for Jackson's visit.
That's a small price to pay for someone who is likely to draw a huge crowd to campus' largest indoor auditorium.
The Speaker Series committee should use Jackson's visit as a basis for who it decides to bring to campus this semester, considering it hasn't done much of anything yet.
In fact, "We really don't have anything yet," were Speaker Series committee member Bob Ebner's exact words in a Monday story.
But the math here is simple. Seven groups combined to spend about $20,000 to bring Jesse Jackson to campus. University President Michael Rao gave the Speaker Series $20,000 to fund this semester.
If $20,000 can buy Jesse Jackson, surely the university can do a little better than Morris Dees. No offense to the civil rights attorney, last semester's Speaker Series speaker, but he isn't exactly a household name.
Ebner said in Monday's story a decision on who will speak this semester could be made at its next meeting. Well, that meeting is today.
The seven aforementioned organizations have set the bar for you and the committee, Mr. Ebner.
Let's see if you can top it.
