The Illini Union Board, IUB, is presenting on March 1 “An Evening with Meghan McCain: Redefining Republican: No labels. No Boxes. No Stereotypes.” Meghan McCain is the daughter of Republican Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain – a big motivator in the decision to invite her to the university.
“McCain is a widely known name in this country,” said Mitchell Paglia, director of enriching programs for the Illini Union Board. “That was definitely one of our reasons for inviting her to speak on campus.”
Paglia also said the IUB hopes Meghan McCain will provide something for conservatives on the university’s “traditionally liberal” campus.
“Any speaker we bring needs to be able to provide something for the campus community for what they’re speaking about,” Paglia said. “Traditionally most of the campus community is very liberal. At least a lot of public discourse in terms of protest or events are mostly geared toward the left, so we thought this would be a nice way to provide an avenue for people who are more ‘to the right’ to come.”
Paglia said, however, that the Meghan McCain has in the past been a good median between liberal and conservative.
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“Meghan McCain is not a hard leaning conservative,” Paglia said. “She’s more social on certain issues. She’s pro gay marriage, for example. She’s a nice balance.”
Though Paglia could not disclose how Meghan McCain would be compensated, he was able to provide a preview into what the IUB believes her presentation will focus on.
“What she usually speaks about, she’s known for constructive criticism of the Republican Party,” Paglia said. “She’s known for believing that they’ve been restricting freedoms and liberties more than expanding them, especially lately. She’s trying to change paradigms of traditional views of Republicans.”
The event will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Illini Rooms ABC of the Illini Union.
Meghan McCain is a columnist for “The Daily Beast” and the author of “Dirty Sexy Politics” and “My Dad, John McCain.” She visited Indiana State University earlier in the month.
