CANYON, TEXAS -- You might have heard there's a famous person coming to speak in Canyon next Tuesday night as part of West Texas A&M University's Distinguished Lecture Series.
But one thing surrounding his appearance has been raising a lot of eyebrows, and that's the amount of money the University is spending to bring him here.
WTAMU has a Distinguished Lecture Series Committee and students make up half of it.
Every year, the committee sets out to bring in a nationally recognized speaker of distinction. This year, it's Former President Bill Clinton.
This is how the committee defends the expense.
"The President is not accepting a penny for his speech. The committee made the offer to donate $100,000 to the Flight 93 Memorial," said Dr. James Calvi, Distinguished Lecture Series Committee Chairman.
Dr. Calvi says that's something the former president is passionate about raising funds for. Dr. Calvi adds, Former President Clinton will speak about the memorial, as well as, his foundation at Tuesday night's event.
The William J. Clinton Foundation's mission is to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote healthier childhoods, and protect the environment.
So, what's the source of the money these speakers get from the university?
"The students pay a student activity fee and that student activity fee in part supports the athletic program, it supports the JBK, it supports student run organizations. So we get a budget every year to bring distinguished speakers," said Dr. Calvi.
Past speakers include Maya Angelou, and Black Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS Shoes.
"It is very important educational opportunity, we think an opportunity that extends beyond the classroom to have students expose to different ideas and different speakers and national personalities," said Dr. Calvi.
Former President Clinton will speak at the First United Bank Center in Canyon.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night, and the event starts at 8:00 p.m.
There's no admission charge, and the seating is on a first-come basis.
You're encouraged to bring a jar of peanut butter for the Canyon Snack Pak 4 Kids Program. A program dedicated to ending weekend hunger in students.
Each Friday, the students are given backpacks for themselves and siblings to have snacks to last through the weekend.
