Are They Covering Their Asses?

James Taranto of Best of the Web Today has discussed the Ward Churchill story quite a bit lately.

Taranto has stated several times that most universities that have canceled plans for Churchill to speak are coping out by claiming 'safety and security' are the reasons for their actions. I tend to agree with Taranto but I wonder if the universities are just covering their asses.

Remember, the people who run these universities aren't stupid. Well perhaps they are, but let's pretend that they're not... If alumni funding and support were at jeopardy I suspect that the average university president wouldn't hesitate to cancel a speaker. Of course if they did it for that reason they would certainly be inviting a lawsuit from Churchill himself or one of his supportors.

After all, money talks.