Speaker Series 'probably not' bringing anyone this year
Were you excited for a big-name, university sponsored speaker to visit campus this year?
Hate to burst your bubble, but it's not likely to happen.
Central Michigan University officials have confirmed that the Speaker Series will not be bringing anyone for the 2008-2009 school year.
"Probably not this year," said University Events Director Bob Ebner. "It takes a couple months to prepare and promote them and coordinate with faculty."
However, the series will receive funding and is looking to book speakers for the 2009-10 academic year, Ebner said.
"There has been funding provided from the provost and president," Ebner said.
Mary Jane Flanagan, executive assistant to University President Michael Rao, said the funding will be a one-time "gift" of $20,000.
John Fierst, speaker committee chairman and Clark Historical Library faculty member said money has yet to be exchanged, but confirmed that funding has been pledged from Rao and Provost Julia Wallace.
Fierst wishes that the Speaker Series could count on more permanent funding.
"We would like to be a line item in the budget," Fierst said. "Given the economic environment, people are pretty reticent about the university budget."
The last speaker brought to campus by the Speaker Series was award-winning author Salman Rushdie, who cost $35,000.
Fierst said that they were able to raise any additional funds that they did not receive in the form of grants from the university.
In 2003, the Speaker Series was discontinued. It was reinstated in 2006.
Fierst said the committee has been meeting every two weeks and is pursuing a speaker, but it is committee policy not to comment on speakers until they are under contract and could not give a timeline for when a speaker would come to campus.
Ebner said that while the committee has been meeting, targeting specific speakers has been difficult without having any committed funding. The rising costs of speakers are another concern for the committee.
"Costs are just out of sight to get anybody with a name and recognition," he said. "Any speaker that is popular is booked up by now and they only do a few speeches a year."
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