This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
College Station, Texas • Texas A&M University is preparing to hold an event highlighting diversity and unity at the same time a white nationalist is set to speak at the College Station campus.
The "Aggies United" event was to begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, about an hour before a speech by Richard Spencer, who leads a movement that mixes racism, white nationalism and populism.
A&M officials say the university didn't schedule the speech by Spencer, who was invited to speak by a former student who reserved campus space available to the public.
Officials say the "Aggies United" event — which will include a talk by a Holocaust survivor — was designed to show the campus' disapproval of Spencer's beliefs.
Several protests against Spencer's speech are expected to be held on the campus.