RENO, NV: Protesters ready for Moore's UNR visit

Protesters ready for Moore�s UNR visit: "Michael Moore speaks Wednesday at the University of Nevada, Reno's Lawlor Events Center, but protests surrounding the controversial filmmaker's visit start today.

The president of the university said we should welcome him as a guest,” Dona Lakis, a Reno resident and the protest’s leader, said Monday. “Most of this community doesn’t even want him here.”

Almost 9,000 tickets have been sold for the lecture by Moore, whose “Fahrenheit 9/11” movie is a scathing attack on President Bush. Moore is coming to UNR as part of his 60-city “Slacker Uprising Tour” of college campuses across the country.

UNR President John Lilley has told critics of Moore’s appearance to treat the director as a “guest” who “must be allowed to speak.”

Additional tickets, at $5 each, may be available, starting today at 10 a.m., at the Lawlor box office, said Jeff Champagne, vice president of Flipside, the Associated Students of the University of Nevada’s programming board.

Champagne said the event was “sold out,” but plans were being made Monday for additional seats.

“I’m sure we will be able to make more available,” Champagne said.

As UNR prepares for Moore’s visit, the “Fahrenheit 9/11” film is available in Northern Nevada video rental stores.

“At my Keystone (Avenue) location, it went out completely,” said Michael Konieczak, vice president of operations for Video Maniacs, a locally owned company with two stores in Reno. “At my Mira Loma (Road) location, it’s not that strong, not at all.”

Don Cox
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL