2008 Woodie Awards
Salman Rushdie at CMU April 15
Committee pays $35,000 for controversial novelist
By: Frank Eslinger
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: News
The Speaker Series Committee will bring novelist Salman Rushdie to campus April 15.
But the committee will be getting a little help to cover his fee.
John Fierst, Speaker Series chairman and Charles V. Park Library assistant professor, said the controversial author's appearance will cost about $35,000. Originally, the committee only had $20,000, which it got from University President Michael Rao last semester.
"It turned out he would require more funding than we had," Fierst said Tuesday.
Fierst said several offices and departments donated funds to secure Rushdie as a speaker. The remaining $15,000 came from the Provost's Office, College of Humanities and Social and Behavorial Sciences, College of Communication and Fine Arts, Honor's Program and the Department of Libraries, he said.
Officials have not yet set a time or place for Rushdie's appearance.
Fierst said the choice to bring Rushdie stemmed from his credentials.
"We liked that he was an international figure," he said. "We wanted to bring someone with character."
Rushdie, a 60-year-old Anglo-Indian novelist, is famous for the controversy behind his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses."
The book led to protests from the Muslim community worldwide because of content in his book regarding Muhammad and the Quran. Multiple death threats have been directed toward Rushdie, even creating a fatwa, a ruling of Islamic law, calling for his death.
Rushdie has written more than eight books, including the 1981 Booker prize-winning "Midnight's Children." Most of his works take place in or around India. His style of writing is defined as "magical realism."
Fierst said Rushdie fit much of the criteria the committee was looking toward.
"We thought he'd have a definite appeal to faculty," Fierst said. "Though students may not recognize him so quickly, he really has an overall appeal. He's recognized, can generate discussion and he's important in his field."
But the committee will be getting a little help to cover his fee.
John Fierst, Speaker Series chairman and Charles V. Park Library assistant professor, said the controversial author's appearance will cost about $35,000. Originally, the committee only had $20,000, which it got from University President Michael Rao last semester.
"It turned out he would require more funding than we had," Fierst said Tuesday.
Fierst said several offices and departments donated funds to secure Rushdie as a speaker. The remaining $15,000 came from the Provost's Office, College of Humanities and Social and Behavorial Sciences, College of Communication and Fine Arts, Honor's Program and the Department of Libraries, he said.
Officials have not yet set a time or place for Rushdie's appearance.
Fierst said the choice to bring Rushdie stemmed from his credentials.
"We liked that he was an international figure," he said. "We wanted to bring someone with character."
Rushdie, a 60-year-old Anglo-Indian novelist, is famous for the controversy behind his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses."
The book led to protests from the Muslim community worldwide because of content in his book regarding Muhammad and the Quran. Multiple death threats have been directed toward Rushdie, even creating a fatwa, a ruling of Islamic law, calling for his death.
Rushdie has written more than eight books, including the 1981 Booker prize-winning "Midnight's Children." Most of his works take place in or around India. His style of writing is defined as "magical realism."
Fierst said Rushdie fit much of the criteria the committee was looking toward.
"We thought he'd have a definite appeal to faculty," Fierst said. "Though students may not recognize him so quickly, he really has an overall appeal. He's recognized, can generate discussion and he's important in his field."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 10
Chirs
posted 2/06/08 @ 1:07 PM EST
This is a great choice after years of bad ones by the committee. I had the great pleasure to see Rushdie at Albion College 5 years ago and he was terrific. (Continued…)
Nick Smith
posted 2/06/08 @ 9:54 PM EST
How much you wanna bet you get not only some comments here, but when the date comes, a bunch of evangelicals on campus protesting his appearance, that Preacher whatever-his-name is having an editorial or something saying all of you are going to hell, and a bunch of screechy right-wings nutjobs come out of the woodwork whining about him and about the supposed lack of conservative speakers?
michmediaperson
posted 2/07/08 @ 7:29 AM EST
Hey Nick, why are CMU liberals so insecure with themselves that they can't bring a Bob Dole, a Pat Buchanan, a Ward Connerly, a Sean Hannity, a Ted Nugent, an Ann Coulter, Michael Steele, the former black Lt. (Continued…)
Nick Smith
posted 2/07/08 @ 10:00 PM EST
For starters, I'm sure for a school like CMU, the ridiculous rates most if not all of those would charge for an appearance is out of CMU's budget for that type of thing. (Continued…)
Nick Smith
posted 2/07/08 @ 10:07 PM EST
Oh, and also, if you actually see my response, I wasn't really looking to start a fight or anything. I honestly was just answering with my honest opinion. (Continued…)
michmediaperson
posted 2/08/08 @ 7:51 AM EST
So, Nick, since CMU thinks very liberally and will pay big bucks for Wes Clark, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Ward Churchill, Joe Wilson, Morris Dees, the abortion attorney and others. (Continued…)
michmediaperson
posted 2/08/08 @ 7:59 AM EST
Another thought or two, Nick.
1. When Michigan's economy is in the tank (thanks to Jennifer Granholm), do you think this is the best usage of money?
2. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 2/08/08 @ 11:04 AM EST
Nick, I agreed with you about Dennis Lennox, but you're exactly the reason conservatives feel attacked on campus. Look at this forum; there was no mention of politics until you mentioned and sarcastically berated conservatives. (Continued…)
Nick Smith
posted 2/08/08 @ 10:08 PM EST
They did when I was there, and still do, have a very liberal bend on who they bring to CMU, I agree. I personally would have had no problem with them bringing more conservatives to campus. (Continued…)
Angela
posted 2/11/08 @ 12:24 PM EST
Politics aside, I want to point out one glaring error in your previous post, Nick. You said "But it's CMU's money, and if idiots like Rao and his people under him choose to continue to run CMU into the ground, that's their perogative. (Continued…)
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