No Speech from Ms. Rice

[Rajoo]

Rice Backs Out of Rutgers Speech After Student Protests

Ms. Rice released this statement: “Commencement should be a time of joyous celebration for the graduates and their families,” the statement said. “Rutgers’ invitation to me to speak has become a distraction for the university community at this very special time.”

It should be noted that the invitation extended by Rutgers to Ms. Rice, a defender of free speech, had a $35K check tethered to it. So her speech was not really free.

I am sure this is customary for these luminaries to charge speaking fees but one would think that at an institution of higher learning, this would be considered an honor. Guess not.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/04/ny...rref=education