Posted on 09/18/2004 10:15:39 AM PDT by Dubya
SAN MARCOS ---- Calling it an issue of free speech, controversial filmmaker Michael Moore said Friday that he won't speak in North County unless Cal State San Marcos pays its share of his $37,000 cost, even though community members have donated more than enough money to cover it.
Moore's scheduled visit to North County next month was canceled Monday by university President Karen Haynes, who said she was concerned about the need for a "balancing perspective."
Speaking in a telephone interview from New York, Moore said Friday that "the university needs to behave as the caretakers of a democratic institution. They have to respect the democratic vote of the students."
Moreover, he said, "(Haynes) declared an election null and void. You don't do that in a democracy."
Haynes' decision, deliberated upon with members of her executive council, rendered moot a 12-3 vote by the student government board on Sept. 10 to spend $6,500 toward bringing Moore to campus on Oct. 13. That money, raised from mandatory student activity fees, was to be added to $30,500 in other university funds to pay for Moore's appearance.
Moore created the controversial documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11," which portrays President Bush as manipulating the aftermath of the 2001 attacks on the United States to go to war in Iraq. It is set to be shown on campus on Oct. 5.
Meanwhile, in a letter that circulated on campus, university President Karen S. Haynes apologized Friday for the way she has handled Moore's visit.
"I want to say to you 'up front,' " she wrote, "that in retrospect, I know I could have handed this matter better."
Noting that she has tried to build a new kind of model for discussion on the campus based on openness and consultation, Haynes wrote, "That did not happen in this case ---- at least to the degree I would like ---- and I regret that."
In her letter, Haynes wrote that after she first heard on Sept. 7 that Moore might be available to speak, she asked for "balance." Students had invited Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to speak prior to election day. A press aide said the governor, who gets some 700 invitations every month, wrote the university on Sept. 10 to say he had to decline.
Haynes wrote that she believes Moore has become a partisan political figure and she pointed out that state law prohibits using public money for partisan activity.
Haynes was careful to define what she meant by balance. It is not, she stated, that "each and every viewpoint ... needs to be met by an opposite viewpoint." In this case, she noted, it was about a state university's need to invite all sides to speak when state money is used to host partisan events leading up to an election.
Meanwhile, community members have donated $41,000 to pay for Moore's visit, student government President Manal Yamout said Friday. She said the money was not solicited, but given by people who are "all supportive of free speech."
The cost of Moore's visit has been pegged at roughly $37,000 ---- including a $25,000 speaking fee and $12,000 in lodging and travel expenses.
Yamout urged Moore to make a North County visit regardless of where his fee comes from. "I would very much encourage him to consider coming to San Marcos," said the Associated Students Inc. leader, "because there's clearly been an upwelling of support from the students and the community."
If he does come, Moore said Friday that it would not be as a critic of Bush, but as a writer and filmmaker drawing attention to the war in Iraq and the war on terror ---- two wars that he said are likely to be around regardless of who is elected president.
Moore's scheduled appearance in October 2003 was canceled when the wildfires broke out. He said that the university made him "a firm and binding offer" in the form of a contract to come this semester.
Cal State San Marcos spokesman Rick Moore, no relation to the filmmaker, said the university has made what he called a proposal to the filmmaker, not a binding commitment. Requests to the university to obtain documentation of the proposal were not immediately successful.
Contact Bruce Kauffman at 760-761-4410 or bkauffman@nctimes.com.
Escondido weighing cost of Moore's speech
By: ERIN MASSEY - Staff Writer
ESCONDIDO ---- If controversial documentary filmmaker Michael Moore comes to Escondido to speak, the city wants to get paid enough to cover security costs, city officials said Friday.
Cal State University San Marcos' Associated Students Inc. has been fighting all week to bring the director of "Fahrenheit 9/11" to North County, and specifically to the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
City leaders say they can't control who comes to the arts center, which is operated by a private foundation, but they do have the right to demand reimbursement for the extra costs of traffic and crowd control.
"The license agreement before the city and the center gives the center the right to determine programming decisions," said City Attorney Jeffrey Epp. "They do receive public money, but it is a private foundation, so they have the right to say yes or no" to which entertainers can perform.
Officials from the arts center met in private Friday afternoon to discuss the issue. Afterward, foundation board Chairwoman Elizabeth Pinter would only release a one-sentence statement.
"No lease agreement has been signed at this time between the center and the university student organization with regard to the appearance of Michael Moore," she said.
On Monday, Cal State President Karen S. Haynes vetoed the university's plans to bring Moore to North County next month because she said there was too little time before the November election to provide a "balancing perspective."
Students responded by raising $41,000 from the community to pay for Moore's visit. The students must pay $25,000 for Moore's speaking fee and another $12,000 in lodging and travel expenses.
Arts center spokesman Fred Tracey said he didn't know what rate the students would be charged. The arts center typically charges $2,000 to commercial companies and $1,500 to a nonprofit group to use the 1,500-seat concert hall for three hours in the afternoon or evening, he said. The cost also depends on how much equipment, staff and help are needed to stage the event, Tracey said.
Escondido Councilman Ron Newman, a retired San Diego police caption, cautioned city leaders at a council meeting Wednesday that if Moore does come to the city-owned arts center, the city should make sure it doesn't lose money on the deal.
"People are going to feel passionately about this, and that leaves a potential for confrontation," Newman said Friday. "We need to look at whose responsibility it is to clean it up. It is going to fall on the (Escondido) police and there is a cost to that."
At the Wednesday council meeting, Newman asked city officials to start working with the arts center to make sure the city's bill is added to the rental price.
City staff members agreed.
Police Chief Duane White said Friday that he always works with the arts center and passes along extra costs when major events come to town. He added he plans to do the same for Moore's speech.
"The arts center has some security, but they would probably request assistance from the city and we would charge for those services," he said. "The taxpayers wouldn't lose any money."
So far, the arts center hasn't asked to meet with Escondido police about Moore's appearance, White said.
Assistant City Manager Jack Anderson said he hasn't been contacted by the arts center either, but the city would have to be included soon to give an estimate of the cost of hosting Moore.
Contact staff writer Erin Massey at (760) 740-5416 or emassey@nctimes.com.
that fat slob needs MORE money?
what's the story with Sean Hannity and he having a face off at another campus, BTW?
...there's a McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Pizza Hut and KFC that he can waddle to without breaking a sweat.
Tell Moore to drive up to Orange County when he is here!
How about a lawsuit, preventing public tax dollars from being used to pay this man's speaking fee?
What's he going to talk about for $37,000? How much he hates people who exploit war for profit.
Just privately rent a hall or stadium and invite Mr. Moore to speak. Why should the University hike tuition year-after-year to host political ideologues whatever their politics? Parents, take back the education of your children!
If he does come, sounds like a good time for a Bush rally!
$12,000 if lodging and travel exepenses? Wow. 20 foot u-hauls are $40 a day, motel 6 around CSUSM are $75, so that must mean fat boy sucks down $11,975 in food.
$12,000? I guess he is not flying coach and staying at Motel 6, now is he?
"Escondido weighing cost of Moore's speech"
About 350 pounds would be my guess.
$12K for EXPENSES??
For A COUPLE OF DAYS??
That's a lot of Big Macs and Super-sized fries!
1st class R/T flight; Presidential Suite at the North County Four Seasons; several hookers; filet mignon and caesar salads for 4 (Moore plus three hookers); limo service to/from the North County Four Seasons; Beluga caviar and New Zealand kiwi fruit continental breakfasts for four; 3 copies Farenheit 9/11 DVD (tip for hookers); 1 copy of The Manchurian Candidate.
If Michael Moore was accidentally assasinated by the Washinton D.C. Sniper, would the bullet be able to pierce all that fat?
HYPOTHETICALLY PEOPLE!!!
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Escondido arts budget will stay flat to maintain stability
By: ERIN MASSEY - Staff Writer
ESCONDIDO ---- City and California Center for the Arts, Escondido, officials decided to take the safe ---- so they won't be sorry ---- route in its 2004-05 fiscal year budget plan, officials said Thursday.
The $6.1 million budget, approved Wednesday, projects a 4 percent increase over last year's $5.8 million budget for the nonprofit foundation that runs the arts center for the city. The new plan mirrors last year's, but includes one new full-time and three new part-time positions.
"We have had a lot of challenges and made a lot of sacrifices," arts center President Vicky Basehore said at a City Council meeting Wednesday night. "We have left our finances flat to get a chance at stability by meeting our goals this fiscal year."
Link => http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/07/16/news/inland/22_43_517_15_04.prt
No way they can cover extra costs from this. Escondido taxpayers would go nuts.
"The cost of Moore's visit has been pegged at roughly $37,000"
That's a lot of money for propaganda.
Anyone who would pay $37,000 to see this slimeball is beyond me.
Maybe this money could be better used by sending it to the victims of Islamofascist murderers in Russia.
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