Although Gainesville has no red carpet, Accent speakers still get star treatment.
Accent sponsors celebrity speech events on campus, arranges limos, catering, dinner and other luxuries for its speaking guests, who are each paid thousands of dollars.
Accent is funded by Student Government, whose budget comes from Student Activity and Service Fees, which come entirely from students.
According to SG finance records, Accent spent $589.26 on a dinner for Zach Braff and some Accent members in March 2009.
In February, it spent $352.97 on a post-show reception for Hill Harper, in addition to $436.60 for a dinner, according to the records.
Accent Chairman Jason Attermann said it is not uncommon for bureaus like Accent to provide food and transportation for the speakers.
Attermann said he thinks it is important for the speakers to enjoy their time at UF and not have to worry themselves with the little details.
“It shows that we respect our speakers, that we bring in and that we respect what they are doing,” Attermann said.
Speaker and performer John Legend was treated to a pre-show dinner worth $769.17, in which guests ate buffalo wings and about $130 worth of spinach dip, according to SG Finance records.
To promote the show, Accent spent $119.15 on full-size cardboard cutouts of Legend.
Meghan McCain’s show featured a pre-show dinner worth $463.14, according to the records.
For the show reception, Accent ordered 50 fruit and cheese platters for about $200, according to SG Finance records.
Student Body Treasurer Maryam Laguna said dinners and limo transportation are part of the speakers’ contracts.
The speakers may not come if their contracts requesting food and transportation are not fulfilled, Laguna said.
Accent’s approximately $500,000 budget is also used to co-sponsor speaking events with other student organizations, Laguna said.
Accent co-sponsored the Great Religion Debate with the Graham Center for Public Service.
The debate was between Christopher Hitchens, an atheist, and Dinesh D’Souza, an author of books about Christianity.
Accent spent $1,080 on limos for the speakers, according to SG Finance records.
Attermann said Accent likes to act as a gracious host, which reflects well on the UF community.
Dinners with the speaker can occasionally be arranged, but members of Accent do not get to spend a lot of one-on-one time with the speakers, Attermann said.
The speakers require their privacy and security, he said.
According to Attermann, Accent does not pay for any alcoholic beverages that are ordered at these dinners.
Attermann said the members of the group like spending time with the various speakers, whether they are at UF to entertain or to pose some serious questions.
“We enjoy their insight,” Attermann said. “We enjoy their intellect and experience and their wisdom.”
