big donors stop lecture by Michael Pollan at Cal Poly SLO

Parent Cafe
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<p>According to the LA Times, Michael Pollan was going to speak but big donors in the area threatened to “rethink” their donations. Pollan is now going to appear on a panel discussion with 2 others rather than giving his talk solo. Says a lot about the administration of this school, that rather than being an independent place where all can speak their minds the big donors can pull strings to decide what students and the community can hear. </p>

<p>See [California</a> agribusiness pressures school to nix Michael Pollan lecture | Los Angeles Times](<a href=“http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/10/california-agribusiness-pressures-school-to-nix-michael-pollan-speech.html]California”>Archive blogs)</p>

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<p>Interesting. DH just read his book The Ominvores Dilemma. It doesn’t surprise me that the big agribusiness donors didn’t want him to speak.</p>

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<p>Omnivore’s Dilemma was the book read campus-wide at UC Davis just a few years ago. And just now Harris Ranch is getting all bent out of shape about Pollan speaking at a California public school? That cow has left the barn, gentlemen.</p>

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<p>You crack me up. That’s my laugh for the afternoon. Can I go home now?</p>

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<p>I’d rather have a meat processing plant on campus than a single speech event from journalism professor.</p>

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<p>I hate donors throwing their weight around. Universities (especially public universities) are supposed to be marketplaces of ideas. </p>

<p>About 5 years ago I was working at a public university that had scheduled Michael Moore to speak. I think it was when he was touring when Farenheit 9/11 came out and universities all over the country were uninviting him when pressured by donors. A number of conservative donors at my university threatened to pull their money. I was very proud when our president told these donors they were free to do whatever they felt best with their money but the university would NOT uninvite him.</p>

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<p>Where’s that poster who was complaining about conservatives being silenced on campuses?</p>

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<p>The LA Times came out editorially against the decision by Cal Poly, but they’re probably a voice in the wind

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<p>Despite some unhappiness from the farm lobby, Wisconsin featured both his book and lecture as part of their reading project this year. Some schools are made of stronger stuff.</p>

<p>[Go</a> Big Read: Michael Pollan Lecture Event was a Huge Success!](<a href=“http://www.gobigread.wisc.edu/blog/2009/09/michael-pollan-lecture-event-was-huge.html]Go”>http://www.gobigread.wisc.edu/blog/2009/09/michael-pollan-lecture-event-was-huge.html)</p>