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My campus group dropped $800 on a speaker fee and it blew up in our faces
Our student club at State U wanted to host a debate on immigration policy, so we invited a professor from another school who's known for moderate views. We paid an $800 honorarium out of our budget, which was a big deal for us. The admin approved it at first, but then a petition started saying his research was 'harmful' and they pulled our room reservation two days before the event. We had already sent the check, and the professor kept the money because of a cancellation clause. Now we're broke and the whole thing got shut down without a single word being spoken. Has anyone else had a speaker payment turn into a total loss because of last minute cancellations? How do you even plan for that?
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the_alex6mo ago
Isn't the real issue booking a speaker that clearly upset so many people?
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grantr777mo ago
Honestly, I see this a different way. The real problem is letting a loud minority shut down a paid event your whole group planned. That $800 loss is bad, but the bigger issue is your school caving and making you eat the cost. Next time, maybe the school should cover the fee if they're the ones pulling the plug.
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grantr777mo ago
Look at the student council budget at most high schools. They might have five grand for the whole year. That $800 hit could wipe out their prom decorations or charity drive. It sets a bad example where a few complaints get more weight than the hard work of the whole planning team. Schools need to back their student leaders when they follow the rules, not leave them broke because someone got upset.
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