Paid $50 for a controversial speaker permit and got more than I bargained for

I paid $50 to the student activities office for a permit to host a speaker on campus who had some pretty unpopular views on immigration policy. The whole thing ended up with a counter-protest, a debate that actually got people talking instead of yelling, and media showing up for interviews. Did anyone else find that spending money to jump through admin hoops actually forced a better event than just a free-for-all?

2 comments

2 Comments

aaron8966d ago

Wait, media actually showed up for a campus speaker permit thing?

allen.cole6d ago

Seems like that $50 was the best money you could have spent. I've seen too many campus events turn into shouting matches because nobody had to actually plan anything or get approval first. Having to go through the proper channels probably forced you to think about security, seating, and making sure both sides could actually speak without drowning each other out. The fact that media showed up and people left talking instead of just being angry says a lot. Sometimes the red tape actually serves a purpose, even when it feels like a hassle at the time.