Bill Clinton to Lecture at University of Texas; Suppposedly Waiving Usual $100K Fee

Daily Texan ^ | Jan. 17, 2003 | Wes Ferguson

[mountaineer]

Former President Bill Clinton will lecture Feb. 12 at Bass Concert Hall, members of UT's Distinguished Speakers Committee confirmed Thursday.

Event information such as time and ticket availability will be announced later this month, after it has been approved by Clinton's staff, said DSC Chairman Marc Eichenbaum.

Clinton has typically drawn $100,000 per appearance at universities around the country since leaving office in 2001. But the former Arkansas governor opted to waive his standard fee as a favor to longtime supporter and distinguished UT alumna Liz Carpenter.

Carpenter, former press secretary for Lady Bird Johnson, will also be honored that evening.

"Students have the opportunity to meet a former head of state as well as to learn more about the legacy of one of the most important alumni of this university, Liz Carpenter," Eichenbaum said. Carpenter, a College of Communication alumna, has been appointed to posts by four presidents and has remained an advocate for her home state.

"Wherever she goes, she takes Texas with her," said Eichenbaum, a government and American studies junior. "The focus will be on Bill, but we cannot forget the great service and work she has done for this university."

Clinton's visit is the 14th in the annual Carpenter Distinguished Visiting Lectureship series, which has included President Gerald Ford, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore and Maya Angelou. [Wow, that is a distinguished bunch.

Clinton last spoke at the University in 1995, when he addressed race relations in America. The topic for Clinton's Feb. 12 speech will be announced later this month, Eichenbaum said.

The event has struck a chord with UT students.

Jordan Kramer, vice president of the University Democrats, said his organization and others had been planning a walkout Feb. 12 in protest of a pending war in Iraq. Upon hearing of Clinton's planned lecture, he said he might have to rethink his schedule.

"This is a huge thing," Kramer said.

Jason Nolen, an electrical engineering sophomore, said he hopes to hear "a lot of things that he might have to say about Bush's stance on foreign and economic policy. That might be interesting."

Nicol Zabak, a biochemistry sophomore, said she tries to catch each speaker who visits UT.

"When Patch Adams came, that was really interesting," she said, adding that she hopes Clinton will discuss his stance on the Iraq situation.

The lecture is expected to be free to UT students and could fill the 3,000-seat auditorium.

[mountaineer]

Ah shore hope those UT girls are good lookin'. And easy. Naah, it doesn't matter if they're good lookin.'

[sheik yerbouty]

He'll probably wave his willy instead.

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[O.C. - Old Cracker]

What's that perty bracelet on Willy's wrist?

[anniegetyourgun]

I'm sure he did waive the $100K fee....in return for Liz's similarly sized donation to HillPAC, their attorneys, the DNC, and so on.....

[txhurl]

Sh*it. Freep opportunity. You in?

You know, being cute chicks, we could infiltrate this handily. Who else is here in Austin?

[Types_with_Fist]

The university likely promised some "trade."

Today's News

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Why is it that whenever I see a picture of this guy I get an image of my fist smashing his nose sideways on his face?

[txhurl]

Do you know many Austin girls on FR?

[Charles Henrickson]

Distinguished Speakers

"Dishonest," "disgraced," "disbarred," but not "distinguished."

[mountaineer]

Blubba's been wearing some sort of bracelet lately. I'm guessing it doesn't say "WWJD," though. Probably "WWCD" (what would Caligula do?)?

By the way, I think they're both drunk in this photo.

[Sacajaweau]

That perty bracelet says H I L L A R Y. It's a reminder kinda like putting a string on his finger.

[mountaineer]

Original caption: Former U.S. President Bill Clinton wears a colorful beaded bracelet on his right wrist as he delivers the keynote address to the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, October 9, 2002 in Washington. Clinton said he received it as a gift on a visit to Colombia and also called on policymakers not to ignore the economic promise of Africa, to help in the scrouge of AIDS and consider debt reduction to deserving nations.

Whatever.

[Sacajaweau]

Boy, can you make that picture bigger? It looks interesting!!

[FITZ]

What's that perty bracelet on Willy's wrist?

Probably something Chelsea made at Oxford.

[FITZ]

It sure doesn't look like he's getting those $200 haircuts anymore ----maybe because the taxpayers aren't paying for them he's back to $5 haircuts.

[Charles Henrickson]

[evad]

But the former Arkansas governor opted to waive his standard fee ..

Somebody must be ponying up a lotsa chicks.

Sexual predator alert in effect.

Mommy's and daddies...keep yer daughters home.

[fightinJAG]

Exactly, annie.

This calls for a major influx of freepers, in and outside the hall. Plus the creep will probably be spending the night somewhere in town after the speech . . . I am WAITING for some enterprising Jane Bond to strap on a wristwatch camera, a halter top and some J.Lo perfume, and snap very lurid pictures of Bubba.

[freekitty]

I thought I saw some pollution in the air.