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* The Sun-Times reports today that most state universities don’t pay their commencement speakers a fee, but rather just reimburse their travel and lodging expenses. NEIU, however, is different…

• $15,000 to Democratic political operative Donna Brazile in 2013. Brazile ran Al Gore’s losing campaign for president in 2000 and twice was interim leader of the Democratic National Committee.

• $10,750 in May 2014 to Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, a professor at the University of Texas in Austin who is an MSNBC and Telemundo contributor.

• $10,000 in 2015 to Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress Rita Moreno, who appeared in the movie musicals “West Side Story” and “The King and I.”

• $10,100 last year to Evan Wolfson, a New York civil right lawyer who founded Freedom to Marry, which pushed successfully to legalize gay marriage.

And then there was the $30K the school was willing to shell out to Valerie Jarrett before she decided not to accept it.

* Rep. Batinick thinks all universities should be banned from the practice…

[NEIU] is heavily reliant on state funds and the ongoing budget battle in Springfield is holding up appropriations. To save money, the school cancelled classes on April 11 and 12 and plans to do so again one day in May.

State Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, says this is exactly why taxpayer-funded schools shouldn’t be allowed to pay commencement speakers. He is filing a bill that would ban the practice in Illinois.

“It certainly isn’t the best use of public funds at a time when the university’s laying off workers and furloughing people,” he said. “And if you expect to get paid for that sort of speech, you don’t deserve to give that sort of speech.”

The same version of his bill that was filed last legislative session would allow private funding for speakers.

* The Question: Do you support Batinick’s proposal? Click here to take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:13 pm

Comments

Voted YES.
It should be an honor to speak at a major university commencement, not a profit center.

Comment by Big Muddy Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:19 pm
See a common thread in that list of speakers?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:22 pm
I strongly agree public universities should not be allowed to pay for commencement speakers unless funded privately. Theoretically, it’s for the graduates and how much will they benefit from hearing the speaker. If I were a right leaning student graduating from NEIU I’d be honked off by the steady stream of liberal commencement speakers. (though I have no idea about Ms. Moreno’s political leanings)

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:25 pm
=“It certainly isn’t the best use of public funds at a time when the university’s laying off workers and furloughing people,” he said. “And if you expect to get paid for that sort of speech, you don’t deserve to give that sort of speech.”=
Donna Brazille? $15k for the person who rotted-out the DNC form the inside. - ugh.
Oh, that’s right - it was the Russians’ fault./s

Comment by Bob Argentinna Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:26 pm
Well I would first say they got a deal on Rita Moreno compared to what they paid to the other speakers…

Voted Yes assuming there is a ‘private money’ exception.

If it is a huge name I could see how it gets the school some publicity, I know Knox has made a big deal out of their speakers (don’t know if they pay them) and I think years ago NIU paid Car Sagan to speak at their centennial event (not graduation). But if graduating college didn’t fire you up to take on the world I am not sure a speaker will do it.

I was a December grad at NIU and I have no recollection of who my graduation speaker was, state schools have better things to spend money on.

Comment by OneMan Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:28 pm
In any other state, at any other time I would vote no. However at this moment I have to agree with Batnick.

Comment by Saluki Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:29 pm
Other than paying Ms. Jarrett 2-3 times more than the previous speakers ($10 - 15K) I don’t object to paying reasonable amounts to inspirational speakers to compensate them for their time. NEIU’s interim president says the State is behind $17 million in payments to the university. Rep. Batinick is just rearranging the deck chairs.

Comment by 37B Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:33 pm
C’mon people. We need to focus.

Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:34 pm
Local control, except when it is politically popular.

Comment by Just Me Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:39 pm
Yes. for obvious reasons. It’s a common practice around the country, though. Don’t understand why.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:43 pm
I voted no. I don’t think they should do it, but I think laws passed in reaction to things that make the headlines (and are briefly politically popular) are not a good idea.

Had it been a law saying that state funds could not be used for such a purpose, I might have voted yes.

Comment by Earnest Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:45 pm
as Sponsor said : if expect to be paid don’t deserve to speak

Comment by x ace Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:46 pm
-Local control, except when it is politically popular.-

They are state universities not local universities. Therefore oversight lies with the state. Voted yes.

Comment by Stan Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:51 pm
Total waste of time and distraction from real issues.

But at least a GOP rep did something at work besides wait for Rauner cash to roll in.

Congrats!

Comment by Blue Bayou Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:51 pm
No. it sets bad precedent. I honestly believe these students have a right to an excellent speaker. Should there be some consideration when there’s budget problems, of course; should we force universities to get less than speakers, no.

Comment by Meh Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:53 pm
“Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress”? Well, yes and…

Rita Moreno is one of just 23 people who have achieved the so-called Triple Crown of Acting, with individual competitive Academy, Emmy and Tony awards for acting.

In addition, she is one of only twelve performers to have won ALL FOUR major annual American entertainment awards: an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy and a Tony.

That’s right the Triple Crown of Acting and an EGOT!

Only Helen Hayes has also done both — and ten grand ain’t enough to get her to give no a graduation speech!

Calling the uniquely-talented Rita Moreno an “Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress” is like calling Michael Jordan “a guy who won a bunch of basketball games”!

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:56 pm
I am fine with private funding and even OK with the university picking up travel and expenses, but not “speaking fees”.

I wonder what BVR would expect to be paid to give such a speech at UIUC, EIU or any of the other Regionals.

I honestly do not remember who spoke at my commencements from UIUC in 1971 and again in 1972. The ceremony is always impressive and it would be great if I had been able to hear a memorable, impressive and “famous” individual send me on my way to do “bigger and better things” for our country and the world.

Comment by illini Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 3:57 pm
– “See a common thread in that list of speakers?”
Lol!

I want to see CSU’s list a (lefty) dignitaries and what they charge that indigent school for the privilege of speaking to the scant number of graduates.

Comment by Deft Wing Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 4:00 pm
- @MisterJayEm -

The EGOT, that’s rarified air, and none of her wins were “honorary”. Great stuff.

To the Post,

Voted “No”, but I do feel the Adminstration and Boosters should be able to work together to get speakers that the alums may want to speak at the schools, and be the group to corner speaking fees for the newly minted alums on their graduation day.

So my “No” isn’t a simple “No”, it’s a “find another way” Yes.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 4:01 pm
No, I don’t think a law created to prevent paid speakers at public universities is a good idea. It could lead to more laws created to prevent other services provided, specifically, by these institutions.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 4:03 pm
No objection to a university paying a reasonable fee to a speaker IF they have the budget for it. Why should someone work for free?

With respect to NEIU, they showed bad judgement given the budget situation. But a bad decision does not justify bad legislation.

To put this in context, how much are the various coaches paid at soem of our universities? Is Batinick outraged by some of those high salaries? Will he be putting up a bill to limit coaches pay?

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 4:05 pm
Voted yes but I equate this to Trumps airstrike at Syria. A distraction from the real problem, our universities haven’t been funded for two fiscal years

Comment by Rogue Roni Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 4:07 pm
Voted no. I don’t feel the state should micromanage higher ed budgets. (I also think higher ed shouldn’t be held hostage. If it weren’t for the hostage situation, we wouldn’t even be discussing this.)

Comment by CCP Hostage Friday, Apr 21, 17 @ 4:48 pm