Michael Moore is no longer scheduled to speak at George Mason University after the university canceled his visit Thursday.
Moore was scheduled to visit GMU Oct. 28 as part of his "Slacker Uprising Tour." According to Moore's Web site, the tour is an effort to get millions of traditional non-voters to the polls Nov. 2.
State Rep. Richard H. Black, R-Fairfax, said the tour stop at GMU -- a public university -- was canceled because the fee was too high and the speaker was too partisan, The Washington Post reported.
However, GMU spokesperson Daniel Walsch said the decision to cancel Moore's speech was purely for financial reasons. Walsch said Moore was charging the university $35,000, and GMU would have had to pay additional costs for opening the school's Patriot Center and paying staff to manage the event.
"GMU remains committed to free speech and educating students with different perspectives on the world -- at the same time we must be fiscally responsible because we rely on taxpayer money," Walsch said.
GMU carefully analyzed spending the money and found that it was not the best use of the Commonwealth's funds, Walsch said. But he added that GMU "is not opposed to Moore, and we're open to him coming if different arrangements can be made."
GMU officials received a vocal response from the public both when they announced Moore's stop at GMU and when they announced the cancellation.
Del. Mitchell Van Yahres, D-Charlottesville, said he believes the issue is about free speech.
"Moore has the right to speak, as would any conservative," Van Yahres said.
Van Yahres said he recognized the financial problems that GMU faced and the questionability of Moore's timing -- his visit would have been less than a week before Election Day. But Van Yahres said universities should accept speakers regardless of their party affiliation.
Van Yahres said the University of Virginia should also consider allowing Moore to visit this month.
"U.Va. prides itself in freedom of speech and looking at all sides of an issue, and if they feel it is a responsible use of funds, Moore should come," Van Yahres said.
State Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, emphasized that it is inappropriate for a university to spend taxpayer and tuition dollars on a partisan speaker.
"Michael Moore is trying to make money wherever he can, he's trying to see if anyone is foolhardy enough to pay his $35,000," Obenshain said.
Obenshain said he was happy that GMU uninvited Moore and added that he hopes the University of Virginia also will decline to host Moore.
"I hope that U.Va. doesn't do it out of taxpayer or tuition dollars," Obenshain said. "It would be extremely inappropriate -- the same as taking money out of your tuition check."
Michael Moore's agent has contacted the University Programs Council about coming to speak at the University. According to UPC Program Advisor Jennifer Monges, the possibility of Michael Moore coming to U.Va. has not been further discussed, and the UPC is not necessarily pursuing him.
Read More
Two measles cases confirmed in Charlottesville this spring
By Nicolas Biernacki | 12 hours agoVirginia’s first case was confirmed in April, with the patient being a child under the age of 5 and from the Northern part of the state.
Summer construction on Grounds disrupts traffic, foot pathways
By Ford McCracken | 18 hours agoOne of the two largest disruptions to traffic is at the three-way intersection of McCormick Road, Rugby Road and University Avenue.
What is U.Va.’s Faculty Senate?
By Adeline Miller | 5 days agoThe Senate is able to represent the faculty perspective to legislative bodies through positions such as the faculty representative to the Board of Visitors.
