UPDATE (Nov. 13, 3:40 PM ET): Shortly after the publication of this article, Lauren Cotant, associate director of student involvement & leadership, notified YAF Chairman Connor Dill that the university is reverting its decision and will re-open the event to anyone interested in attending, regardless of affiliation with UAB. The event will be held at 6:30 PM in Heritage Hall.
The University of Alabama – Birmingham is implementing last-minute attendance restrictions on the Young Americans for Freedom chapter’s Chloe Cole lecture this evening in an apparent attempt to derail the event’s success.
Despite administrators approving attendance by UAB alumni, students of neighboring schools, and interested community members weeks ago, UAB YAF Chairman Connor Dill was told in a meeting with administrators this morning that attendance will now be limited to current students and faculty members.
No reason was given for this sudden change.
The public university is also blocking attendance by members of the media, and will not explain its decision making.
Chloe Cole’s past few campus events have attracted large crowds of supporters and protestors alike, as well as significant local media coverage.
The eleventh-hour nature of this major change appears to be intentional. Young America’s Foundation’s campus events coordinator, Breana Marsh, asked the administrators if members of the public and the media will similarly be blocked from attending the counter-event that’s being organized by campus leftists – the administrator would not give a firm answer.
YAF is currently working to revert this change. The event will be held at 6:30 PM in Heritage Hall.
