Published April 17, 2007


Speech by Minutemen co-founder moved to new location at MSU

Matthew Miller
Lansing State Journal


Michigan State University officials have asked the organizers of a speech by Minutemen co-founder Chris Simcox to move the event to a place where it will not disturb classes in progress.

The former location in Wells Hall is "surrounded by classrooms," said Terry Denbow, vice president for university relations, "and there shouldn't be any disruption of an academic setting because of an event."

Denbow said the speech wasn't being moved because of its potentially controversial content but "based on potential crowd size and noise."

He added, however, that "I can't deny that security is one of the criteria you use when assigning space."

Jeff Wiggins, head of the MSU College Republicans, which is co-sponsoring Simcox's speech with the Young Americans for Freedom, said he resented the change, adding he believed any disruption would come from protesters, not from members of the sponsoring groups.

"I think it's completely ridiculous that we have to move our event because people who want to disrupt it," he said.

The speech will now take place from 7:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday in Room 102 of Conrad Hall on MSU's campus.


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