Letter to Editor by Nikk Katzman
I am a Jew, a UK alumna, and one of many people hoping for peace in the Middle East. I was pleased to hear Ehud Olmert speak at UK, and I was pleased to be able to speak with some of the protesters across the street before his talk.
I was also looking forward to hearing the “Palestinian of equal stature” who would be coming to give a speech at UK in March.
I was glad to read in the Nov. 5 Kernel that long-time activist Hanan Ashrawi will be coming to speak at UK. However, I was appalled to see she will be paid one-third of what Olmert was paid.
I can think of only two reasons why a “Palestinian of equal stature” would be paid $30,000 less than the former Prime Minister. Either a) She is a woman, and/or b) She is Arab.
I hate to have to mention it to you, UK, but all humans are created equal. If we are to have peace, we must be able to have Palestinians and Jews treat each other with respect, as equal humans. If we are to treat each other equally, we must pay women, minorities and men equally. Both equality and respect begin at home, folks.
By the way, Assistant Provost Richard Greissman: You’ll never even “get world leaders to come to UK for lunch” if they know they’ll be treated as less than equal before the meal is served.
Shame on you. Shame on you. Shame on you.
Nikk Katzman
UK Alumna 1987
Cartain speakers command a higher speaking fee just because they are more in demand. If the University wants to pay every speaker the same speaking fee then they can certainly choose to do so but then you might not get the best speakers. Sounds kinds of socialistist to pay everyone the same regardless of what the demand is for their services. That ignores the reality of the supposed “free market” economy we operate in. But this shouldn’t be confused with discrimination based on a persons gender, race, ethnicity or religious background. Apples and oranges.
Just one minor correction that I think got edited oddly… I’m an alumna (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alumna), not an alumnus. :-)
The complaint raises a point of which the writer is unaware. Fees for appearances are generally set by speakers bureaus, which act as agents for the speakers. These are market-based and represent the demand for the particular speaker. Thus, if Omert and Ashrawi were obtained through the normal avenues, any discrimination in compensation is by the speakers’ own agents. The fee for Ashrawi is determined by what her agent believes she will receive on the speaking circuit. If she demands more then the market will bear, she is not likely to be heard.
Kirk Moberley
A&S ’67
Law ’70
My wife was asked to play at the White House several years ago. When it was made clear that she was not going to be paid for the ‘gig’, she thought about passing on the opportunity, but eventually took it. What she regrets was missing her opportunity to answer the staffer who asked ‘But then what would we pay [X-random-name-performer-who-does-some-similar-small-gig] when they come?’ She says her answer should have been, ‘Union scale.’
It may be that a ‘union scale’ equivalent for regional leaders of ‘equivalent stature’ would still be $30K apart here, it depends on how one defines ‘equivalent stature’. It may be that both Olmert and Ashrawi are each charging the highest speakers fees for Former Israeli leaders and Palestinian leaders respectively. In which case they are ‘equivalent’, and each getting what they ask for.
Or it may just mean they are about the same age.