Rev. Al Sharpton to Speak at Midd
The Middlebury College Activities Board (MCAB) announced today that the Rev. Al Sharpton will be speaking at Middlebury College on February 11th. MCAB budgets funding each year for a “big speaker” that aims to both excite and engage students. A survey that went out in the Fall of last year asked students what type of speaker would be most requested by students. The survey resulted in high numbers of students asking for a political speaker in a big political year. The lecture will be on social justice and civil rights.
MiddBlog wants to know: is Rev. Al Sharpton a good choice? Why? What will Middkids get out hearing him speak?
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Even though I will have graduated, I am excited for the Middlebury community to listen to his words. His recent speeches illustrate the necessity of putting aside party philosophies and ideologies in order to solve social justice issues, especially education reform. For a college that consistently sends dozens of graduates into the realm of education, his opinion is a great resource in order to encourage Midd alums to improve the American system of education.
Perhaps Al Sharpton has been trying of late to clean up his image in order to gain the modicum of respectability necessary for a political career. But someone with historical memory longer than two minutes will recall Sharpton’s incendiary rhetoric and racial demagoguery. Please ask him about his role in the Tawana Brawley hoax. If he exhibits anything less than contrition about his performance in that pathetic incident, you will know that his claim to be be a civil rights leader is bogus. Surely MCAB could have found a better “celebrity” speaker for its $40,000. Giving Sharpton this platform is an embarrassment.
The MCAB budget for speakers is $40,000 over two years. But that is not necessarily how much Al Sharpton cost to bring to campus. MCAB Speakers Committee may allocate that funding in a number of ways including bringing another big speaker to campus this year. The Campus article is somewhat misleading.
Like him, or dislike him, Al Sharpton is an exciting opportunity for Middlebury students. How often do students get to engage well-known, controversial figures? MCAB’s invitation to Rev. Sharpton should not be interpreted as the college’s endorsement of his thoughts, words, or actions. It’s a speaking engagement, not an honorary degree.