The Federal Elections Committee recently dismissed a lawsuit against Syracuse University regarding 2004’s guest speaker, director Michael Moore.

In the fall of 2004, lawyer David T. Hardy of Tuscon, Arizona, filed a lawsuit against universities across the nation where Moore was speaking on his ‘Slackers Uprising Tour.’ Hardy claimed the fees paid by university organizations were not going to Moore, but political campaigns he was supporting.

Some other universities associated with the lawsuit were Missouri State University, University of Florida and Pennsylvania State University.

The lawsuit was dismissed on the basis that the FEC found no evidence of Moore giving his proceeds to any federal committee, political organization or campaign.

‘We brought in Michael Moore at the perfect time,’ said Dennis Jacobs, former president and director of speakers for University Union. ”Fahrenheit 9-11′ had just came out; he was huge, one of the biggest speakers we’ve ever done here. We sold out the 10,000 seats in our Dome. He was our biggest speaking event we’ve ever done in the history of UU.’

Moore was brought to the campus through UU as part of the annual Syracuse Symposium. Jacobs said Moore was paid through his agent, as the organization does with any other speaker, and not to a direct campaign.

Moore was not believed to be scheduled as a speaker in order to sway any opinions, Jacobs said.

‘We mostly bring in speakers that are in some way or shape involved with entertainment,’ Jacobs said. ‘College Republicans and College Democrats will bring the really polarized speakers.’

Moore’s speech had less to do with political persuasion than political activity, said Sam Eschenbrenner, former College Democrats president.

‘I highly doubt many (students) walked away from that speech feeling persuaded in any way,’ Eschenbrenner said.

Eschenbrenner, a senior political science major, said the most effective point of Moore’s presentation was encouraging students to register to vote, regardless of his or her choices.

‘I don’t know how many students registered to vote that night, but it was a ton,’ he said.

In reference to Hardy’s complaint against the universities, Kevin Morrow, director of SU News Services, said, ‘I can tell you that there was no merit in the suit.’

‘When you invite a speaker to come to campus … there are always going to be people who are in favor of that individual and others who are in opposition,’ Morrow said.

Published on September 18, 2006 at 12:00 pm