Obama favorite Valerie Jarrett will take $30,000 from struggling minority university

CDN – http://www.conservativedailynews.com

Former Senior Advisor to President Obama Valerie Jarrett contracted with a struggling minority college to get paid $30,000 for a commencement speech. Northeastern Illinois University, a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, asked Valerie Jarrett to speak at the 2017 graduation to which she agreed for the tidy sum of $30,000. As commencement speaking fees go, Jarrett’s isn’t out-of-line for well-known figures, but NEIU’s president said that the school was in a “state of emergency” due to funding issues. A donor has stepped forward to pay Jarrett’s contracted fee, but many are left wondering why the former Obama official didn’t offer to donate her fee to charity or as a scholarship for minority students at the financially-troubled university. “Since last week’s Board of Trustees meeting, we have identified a generous donor who will cover the cost for our Commencement speaker,” spokesman Mike Hines said in an email. “Valerie Jarrett is a role model for many of our graduating students as well as prospective students. We are pleased that she has agreed to be our Commencement speaker.” During an April 6th board meeting, one member found the agreement to pay the fee “disturbing” while another simply exclaimed “wow.” “I’m not certain that’s the best use of funds,” State Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield said on Monday of payments for commencement speakers. “If it’s a private university, it’s one thing, but a public university that’s struggling, you would think someone would step up and graciously do the commencement.” Valerie Jarrett has not offered to waive the fee nor donate it back to the school as of the printing of this article. CDN – http://www.conservativedailynews.com