EMU: Kwame Kilpatrick speech not a university-sponsored event
Following last week's announcement that former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will speak at Eastern Michigan University, the school has clarified that the event is not university sponsored.
"The appearance of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is not a university-sponsored event and the university is not providing any funding to Mr. Kilpatrick. Similar to many universities, Eastern has a policy allowing student organizations to determine programming based on their own interests and agenda," a statement released by EMU said.
Kwame Kilpatrick
"Eastern Michigan University supports more than 200 student organizations, representing a variety of interests and viewpoints. University policy is to encourage recognized student organizations to invite speakers to campus in the spirit of free exchange of ideas and to promote the timely discussion of a wide variety of issues," EMU's statement said.
Details of the university's policy can be read in a PDF found here.
EMU also said that student organizations are responsible for managing the events and for any speaker costs. The university does not vet, approve or deny student groups' choice of speaker, provided they meet the provisions detailed in the policy.
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