Article

2004-11-11 Fifth Column

Michael Moore and the Scandal of Student Fees

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Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-11-11 6:23:13 AM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I've always maintained MM found a market for schlock leftist nonsense and set about servicing it. I tried to read Stupid White Men, and it's unreadable dreck, and it would still be unreadable dreck if he was revealing the meaning of life. I hear the ghost of PT Barnum telling me there is a sucker born every minute.

Posted by phil_b 2004-11-11 7:02:51 AM|| 2004-11-11 7:02:51 AM|| Front Page Top

#2
Back when I was attending the University of Oregon in the early 1970s, I was constantly outraged about student fees. I was famous as someone who complained about this issue often in the student newspaper. In particular I complained about such large expenditures for speakers I disliked.

Since then, as the years have passed and as I have been free of the personal aggravation of paying such fees, my opinions about that issue have evolved. I think that the student governments that govern these fees are a worthwhile part of the university experience, and I regret that I myself did not become directly involved. I imagine that many of those who did become involved did develop much valuable experience.

A celebrity like Michael Moore gets $30,000+ for giving a speech. That seems nonsensical, but it's just a fact of life.
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Posted by Mike Sylwester 2004-11-11 8:48:23 AM|| 2004-11-11 8:48:23 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 I suppose you think Osama Bin Laden and Zak should also be paid for spreading lies and propoganda on our collage campuses as well right?
I'm sorry but I think that if a university is going to spend mandatory student fees for a speaker at least the speaker should be somwwhat honorable and worth listening to. Mike Al-moore is neither.
I see no 'educational enhancement' to having an old fat liar spread his bullshit.

Posted by CrazyFool 2004-11-11 9:37:44 AM|| 2004-11-11 9:37:44 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Everyone asks why tuitions are rocketing up across the US...students are not paying near enough attention that their entire tuition bill for four years of college can be spent...on one celebrity speaker, for one day, for five hundred people.

Posted by Seafarious 2004-11-11 10:05:36 AM|| 2004-11-11 10:05:36 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Somebody give that swollen garbage bag a world-class surprise. PLEASE!

[Enter Michael Moore]
Crowd: *jumps up as one* SURPRISE!
Moore: *gasps* *clutches chest* ouch *dies*

Posted by Steve from Relto 2004-11-11 10:06:12 AM|| 2004-11-11 10:06:12 AM|| Front Page Top

#6
I would be against paying Michael Moore to speak.
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Posted by Mike Sylwester 2004-11-11 10:22:44 AM|| 2004-11-11 10:22:44 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Can I ask why such lectures aren't paid for voluntarily? I mean, if they can sell enough tickets to cover the fee, then fair enough. Stealing from the many to indulge the few is just plain wrong.

Posted by Bulldog 2004-11-11 10:44:47 AM|| 2004-11-11 10:44:47 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 Student fees are to be used for official disbursements by the university. As regards speaking engagements, they should be reserved for figures whose speeches and thought have real academic merit rather than for celebrity idiotarians like Mikey Boy.

Posted by lex 2004-11-11 10:48:28 AM|| 2004-11-11 10:48:28 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 It's a prestige thing, Bulldog. (Oh, and happy Remembrance Day.) Part and parcel of the lefty "it's for your own good/you'll thank me later" worldview, plus a chance to show off how very progressive and forward-thinking your college is. And a healthy dose of spending "other people's money".

When Michael Moore was scheduled to speak (for $35,000 taxpayer dollars) at a college in Northern Virginia (just outside of Wash DC), the local red-state radio station raised a big stink and got him to cancel his fee. Jabba still came and gave his talk...but for free!

Posted by Seafarious 2004-11-11 10:52:01 AM|| 2004-11-11 10:52:01 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 I was famous as someone who complained

Ima stunned!

Posted by Shipman 2004-11-11 1:16:14 PM|| 2004-11-11 1:16:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 #9 Seafarious - one slight correction. Al-Moore didn't cancel his fee. The university was forced by the publicity to cancel paying him Virginia taxpayers' money.

He didn't come for free anyway out of the goodness of his heart - he has none (goodness or heart) - but as a publicity stunt. He could well have afforded to go for free to all the universities he inflicted himself on, but he's a greedy, money-grubbing weasel who publicly laughs at those who pay for his crap. And they keep paying him anyway.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2004-11-11 1:16:30 PM|| 2004-11-11 1:16:30 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 Here we go MS:
One thing that snipers were very discriminating about â every single ambulance I saw had bullet holes in it. Two I inspected bore clear evidence of specific, deliberate sniping.

Call the UN! Convene the Links Committee! Let's do lunch and compare links! Kofi is good for the tab.

Posted by Shipman 2004-11-11 1:19:54 PM|| 2004-11-11 1:19:54 PM|| Front Page Top

#13
Re #8 (lex): Student fees are to be used for official disbursements by the university. As regards speaking engagements, they should be reserved for figures whose speeches and thought have real academic merit rather than for celebrity idiotarians like Mikey Boy.

I agree.

The question I raise here, though, is whether giving the university's student government the authority to make such decisions is a worthwhile university experience. I used to say no, now I say OK.
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Posted by Mike Sylwester 2004-11-11 1:21:26 PM|| 2004-11-11 1:21:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#14 model EU/UN, huh, Mikey? Using someone else's money to make decisions for those ~~less progressive/educated/wise~~ little peepuls?

Posted by Frank G 2004-11-11 1:34:39 PM|| 2004-11-11 1:34:39 PM|| Front Page Top

#15

Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-11-11 4:16:32 PM|| 2004-11-11 4:16:32 PM|| Front Page Top

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