Today's controversial second visit of 41st president George H.W. Bush for the Issam M. Fares Lecture will proceed regardless of protests, according to Tom Frechette, the former president's press and personal aid. "President Bush is coming. He will be there," Frechette said.
Bush's arrival has sparked activists to plan demonstrations in protest of his actions as president and director of the Central Intelligence Agency. As many as 1,000 protestors from both Tufts and the Medford-Somerville community are expected to gather in Davis Square and march to the Gantcher Center, the site of Bush's speech.
Bush has met with protests before and he may even address the protesters in today's speech, Frechette said. "He may make a comment on that or two, [about] how it's great that in America you can voice your opinion," he said.
University administrators will also accept non-disruptive protests. "No one will be stopped from peacefully demonstrating outside of Gantcher, provided access to the facility is not restricted," University President Larry Bacow said in an e-mail to the student body last night.
The e-mail also announced that there will be an open discussion about Bush's speech at 8 p.m. tonight in the Asean Auditorium in the Cabot Center. The discussion will be a "civil dialogue" for members of the Tufts community, moderated by University Chaplain David O'Leary, the e-mail said.
Bush's speech, titled "Perspectives on the Middle East" will focus on issues of leadership, specifically dealing with Bush's experience as president, Frechette said. Bush will also speak about the Fares Center, the cause of his return to Tufts.
Since Fares lecturers are invited to speak on issues related to public policy and the Middle East, Bush's speech will also touch on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the situation with Iraq.
Bush's visit has incited controversy amongst both students and faculty. At a recent faculty meeting, some professors expressed dismay with the selection of Bush for the Fares Lecture.
Others on campus have questioned why Bush was asked to speak for a second time. According to Frechette, Bush is "coming back to do the lecture series for his good friend, Mr. Fares, who Mr. Bush is very close with."
Fares, the Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon and a trustee emeritus of the University, financially supports the Fares Lecture every year.
Though neither Bush's aides nor University administrators would comment on Bush's compensation for his appearance at Tufts, the former president was paid $80,000 for a similar speech at the University of Florida at Gainesville, according to the Independent Florida Alligator, the University of Florida's student daily.
Security will be tight at the Gantcher Center tomorrow and though the Secret Service could not comment on specific protection efforts, a protection team will visit the site in advance and "determine manpower, equipment, hospitals, and evacuation routes for emergencies," according to the Secret Service's website. The Secret Service has established a command center and will work with local law enforcement to protect the former president.
All members of the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) will also be on hand to provide security for the event, according to TUPD Captain Mark Keith. The Medford Police Department has also blocked off all parking spaces in Gantcher's vicinity.
Inside the building, attendees will be subject to metal detectors and any handbags may be searched. Backpacks, briefcases, containers, cameras, and signs will not be allowed.
Stephen Liebowitz contributed to this article
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