However, fans filled Vandament Arena at NMU to hear the controversial commentator.
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MARQUETTE -- Whether you agree or disagree with her, conservative commentator Ann Coulter gets people talking. And she certainly did that with her presence at Northern Michigan University Monday night. One thing students could agree on was that it got people to take action--both for and against her.
Coulter, a lawyer and author, holds no punches. Known for targeting liberals, she was even taking shots at presumptive Republican presidential nominee, John McCain.
"If someone who has been tortured is going to object to harsh interrogation techniques performed on our enemy, it seems that that's an argument against that person becoming president," said Coulter of McCain.
But it's statements like those that get many people's attention--both positive and negative.
"So we kind of like the controversy. It's sparked debate," said Chaz Tillman of the NMU College Republicans, who brought Coulter to campus. "I've heard people on campus talk more about politics in the last three months than I've heard in my whole four years here."
It certainly gave campus groups opposed to her a chance to get their issues heard. The Progressive Student Roundtable--a consortium of various student organizations--put together what they called a "Truth Rally" before the Coulter event.
"We're here today representing the students at NMU, and hopefully a lot of community members, to promote diversity, tolerance, acceptance in Marquette and the surrounding area as a counterbalance to some of the views Ms. Coulter represents," said Betsy Ott, one of the rally's organizers.
While these students were letting their views be known, so was Coulter--to a packed Vandament Arena.
"For liberals, free speech is nude dancing and treason," said Coulter. "And conservative speech--no, that's 'hate speech.'"
But those at the Truth Rally weren't necessarily against her speaking at all.
"We in no way mean to discourage her ideas or her free speech rights," said Ott.
However, there were many students--and even professors--who were upset that the university approved using $23,000 of Student Activity Fee funds to pay for Ms. Coulter. And it seemed not many NMU students even attended the event. A few of those who did walked out in protest.
But it was clear that most of the audience was in Coulter's corner.
