Conservative writer Lowry to speak in Terre Haute Nov. 21

Conservative editor and writer Rich Lowry will be speaking in Terre Haute, after all.

Lowry, whose Sept. 30 scheduled appearance at Indiana State University was canceled by the university — which cited campus and community safety concerns — will instead be speaking Nov. 21 at the downtown Terre Haute Convention Center.

Lowry is editor-in-chief at the National Review and a columnist for King Features and Politico.

State Sen. Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute, is hosting what he's calling a free-speech event, which is open to the public. Lowry will be the keynote speaker.

"I was disappointed in the university's decision to cancel Rich Lowry and heard from a number of students, faculty, alumni, policymakers, and Vigo County citizens who were stunned by what felt like a hasty decision made by the university's leadership that had not been well thought through," Goode said in a news release.

Goode further stated, "I also believe that had the university reached out to law enforcement partners at the local, county, and state levels, any security concerns alleged by the university would have been easily addressed. Since the university's decision, I have been in communication with Mr. Lowry to offer my help, and I am deeply grateful for the grace he has demonstrated and for his commitment to coming to Terre Haute to join our community in a respectful, civil discourse."

Goode is a former ISU official, having served as executive director of government relations and university communications.

In a statement, Lowry said, "I'm so grateful to Sen. Goode for getting me out to Terre Haute. It's a strong statement in favor of free expression and a pointed rejection of the illiberalism and bad faith of Indiana State, an institution that purports to stand for free inquiry. As Americans, we should always favor fair play and robust public debate."

Prior to the Lowry keynote address, attorney and political media contributor Abdul-Hakim Shabazz will participate in a fireside chat on free speech and civil discourse in Indiana and America.

For the Nov. 21 event, doors open at 5:30 p.m. The Shabazz chat is at 6 p.m., with Rich Lowry's keynote address at 7 p.m.

The event is free to the public, but reservations are encouraged. To make reservations visit .

Lowry had been slated to appear at ISU Sept. 30 as part of the University Speaker Series. ISU announced the cancellation Sept. 18.

The decision was made "in light of recent developments and following the advice of our public safety officials regarding campus and community safety concerns," the university stated, although it never specified the safety concerns.

Lowry, who had been accused by some of using a racial slur to refer to Haitian migrants during an appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show, later responded that the alleged slur actually was a mispronunciation.

Lowry said the accusation has been rebutted "even by people who disagree with me politically."

ISU said it was "important to stress that this cancellation is not intended to limit our neutrality on different political viewpoints. Indiana State University remains firmly committed to fostering intellectual diversity and encouraging the respectful exchange of ideas from multiple perspectives."

Lowry responded that "taking the side of a woke online fringe and giving it what it wants on the basis of an almost certainly nonexistent security threat doesn't speak to political neutrality."