Conservative political commentator and author Ann Coulter will speak at the University of Wyoming March 31 in the A&S auditorium.

Coulter, who is known for her firebrand anti-liberal rhetoric, was invited to speak on campus by the College Republicans. 

Last year’s president of the College Republicans and first year law student, Caitlin Wallace, who was a part of bringing Coulter to UW, explained that there have been some considerable misperceptions regarding the invitation. 

She stressed that the invitation is not in response to the Ayers controversy last spring. 

Wallace says that Coulter has instead been invited as part of an attempt to bring more conservative speakers to campus.

“During the controversy that surrounded the Ayers speaking engagement, we started having a discussion within the College Republicans about the lack of conservative speakers who have visited UW,” she said. 

Wallace explained that the decision to invite Coulter a result of several factors. 

“Among the big names we brainstormed, Coulter was not only the most reasonable, but we also had an offer from an anonymous donor who offered to pay half of Coulter’s speaking costs if we invited her,” she said.

The other half of Coulter’s $20,000 speaking fee will be covered by the Young America’s Foundation, a national conservative organization that encourages young conservatives to become active in the political process.

According to Wallace, rumors about the anonymous donor being a member of the UW administration are false, and the individual who made the donation is a non-Wyoming resident and has no ties to UW.  Wallace explained that she thinks Coulter offers a broad message to which many people can relate. 

“I think what Ann Coulter is doing is more than just preaching conservative values. She is calling out the other side very clearly. She is giving a lot of people a fodder for seeing what is wrong with the left. And I think this can help unite the conservative movement.”

Last year, the group brought in Mike Holler, who speaks around the country about the history and development of the U.S. Constitution. 

Wallace is optimistic about the College Republicans' current course and says they are headed on the right track. 

“We want to stay active, continue to bring in speakers, and also participate in more activities like the health care debate that we did last year with the College Democrats,” Wallace said. 

Email: Bob Kubichek