Controversial Speaker Events at Penn State Postponed Indefinitely

Student-organized events scheduled for this month at Penn State’s University Park campus featuring controversial right-wing speakers James Lindsay and Alex Stein have been postponed indefinitely, according to university spokesperson Lisa Powers.

The speakers’ names were never publicly announced by the organizations hosting the events, but Powers confirmed the names Friday.

Young America’s Foundation planned to host Lindsay for a lecture on Thursday, April 20, and Uncensored America planned to host Stein for a lecture on Monday, April 24. The university clarified that it did not cancel the proposed events.

According to The Southern Poverty Law Center, Lindsay is a “leading voice in the reactionary anti-student inclusion, anti-LGBTQ, and conspiracy propaganda movements.”

Uncensored America previously brought Stein, a right-wing internet personality, to campus with Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes in October for an event that was canceled shortly before it was scheduled to begin due to what university police described as “the threat of escalating violence.”

Lindsay’s April 20 lecture was postponed indefinitely due to Young America’s Foundation’s alleged issue with the location. Two conference rooms in the Bryce Jordan Center were allocated, but “the student group (YAF) determined it would wait for a future date when other venues might be considered.”

“All aspects of a venue’s evaluation are done on a viewpoint- and content-neutral basis,” Powers said. “Under the law, the University can impose limits on time, place and manner of a speaking engagement to address facility and resource needs, as well as the safety of our community. This recognized student organization is able to re-request funding and space for an event in the fall semester. ”

Uncensored America requested a change of date for the Stein event from Monday, April 24, to Friday, April 28, which is the day of Movin’ On. Because of the music festival, University Police and Public Safety were unable to allocate the necessary resources for Stein’s lecture, Powers said. The student organization also requested a change of date to Saturday, April 29, but the request was denied due to university policy prohibiting programming to occur from April 29 through the end of the semester.

“Uncensored America indicated none of the other dates proposed by the University would work and the group canceled the proposed event,” Powers said. “Following this cancellation, Uncensored America then proposed a different speaker for April 24. With less than a week to prepare, staff and resources that had been allocated to other events were not available to support this event. Uncensored America is able to re-request funding and space for an event in the fall semester. ”