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Sam Penrod ReportingThe controversy over political speakers on the campus of UVSC isn't going away; it's getting hotter if anything.
Today some students held a rally to protest not Michael Moore, but Sean Hannity. It seems no one there was really protesting Sean Hannity, but they were trying to make a point.
Why such an uproar over Michael Moore's speech, while Sean Hannity seems to be getting a hero's welcome?
UVSC Student: "In my right hand, appropriately, I have a ticket to Sean Nannity and in my left hand a ticket to Michael Moore, so unlike Sean Hannity, I intend to be very balanced in my viewing."
UVSC Students took turns speaking out today, some taking jabs at Sean Hannity, but it was without the same highly charged emotions some have expressed over Michael Moore.
Scott Larson, UVSC Student: “I'm a fairly conservative person, I don't agree with everything that Michael Moore says. But I definitely feel he has a right to be out here. We felt in response to that, maybe have an anti-Sean Hannity rally just to see what people would think about that, because no one was complaining when Sean Hannity was called to come here."
Students who organized the rally say it was meant to be a satirical look at how many people on campus have reacted to Michael Moore.
Matt Gifford, UVSC Student, Organized Rally: "They are being extremely closed minded. They are making Utah look bad by being so closed minded, and freedom of speech is a good thing. We should be able to hear both sides and decide what we want to believe for ourselves."
Others question if Sean Hannity really offers political balance to Michael Moore.
Danny Debdikes: "He's definitely not more in the middle of what people in Orem probably agree with on most issues."
But Michael Moore's speech still has many neighbors of the college upset. Last week Kay Anderson offered $25,000 of his own money to UVSC if they'd cancel Michael Moore's speech.
Kay Anderson, Orem Resident: “I haven’t talked to anyone who wants to take UVSC’s freedom of speech away. It’s more a matter of respect; in fact, it’s all about respect. Is this college going to sit here and say, ‘you know we can do anything we want and who we offend doesn’t make any difference?’”
Sean Hannity speaks a week from tonight. Michael Moore's speech is still on for October 20th.
