Sound implausible?

Not at Utah Valley State College, where an increasingly popular recall petition could do just that: dump Moore and the student leaders who invited him.

"We've never had anything like that," UVSC spokesman Derek Hall said Thursday. But "if there's enough outcry by the student body, an election like this could happen."

As it stands, though, the "Fahrenheit 9/11" director will speak Oct. 20. Moore's conservative counterpoint, Sean Hannity, is booked for Oct. 11. And to ensure that "balance," Republican gubernatorial candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. has offered his father's jet to bring Hannity to Utah.

Jim Bassi, the UVSC student body president locked in the cross hairs, worries a recall could prompt Moore to sue. By contract, the school still would have to pay the $40,000 speaking fee.

"It's a question of censoring," Bassi said, adding that free speech is "what this country is all about - especially on a college campus."

Multiple phone calls and e-mails seeking a comment from Moore were not returned.

The petition, launched by UVSC senior Sean Vreeland, has nearly 2,000 signatures. Under the student constitution, a recall needs 10 percent of the student body, or 2,415 signatures. Once a valid petition is posted for a week and published in the student newspaper, Hall said the dean can schedule a recall election.

If two-thirds of the student voters then back the two-pronged petition - provided the recall balloting draws more voters than the previous student government election - Moore's appearance could be canceled and Bassi along with his vice president, Joe Vogel, ousted.

Vreeland launched the petition - viewable online at

http://www.recalluvsc.org - to stop what he calls the misuse of student fees, which are being tapped to pay Moore.

"Of course, Sean Hannity isn't quite the extremist or activist as Michael Moore, but it's still on the students' dime," he said.

Hannity is waiving his $100,000 speaking fee, but is expected to have his travel and expenses covered by the Huntsman campaign, a $5,000 anonymous donation and student fees from ticket sales. Moore sold out in five days and Hannity has notched 1,100 tickets sold so far.

Fallout from the Moore announcement led administrators to poll the school's trustees to discuss the ramifications.

"We've had many people tell us they'll pull their donations. That they'll never support the institution again," Hall said.

Enter Huntsman, whose campaign sprung to action more than a week ago to lure Hannity.

Calls were placed to UVSC trustee and longtime Republican operative Michael Mower, who said he "knew [Hannity's] people and kind of knew who to call."

Mower said Huntsman offered $10,000 and, according to Fox News, the jet to ferry Hannity from New York to Utah and on to Phoenix for the Oct. 12 presidential debate.

"He's trying to pander to the far right," said state Democratic Party Chairman Donald Dunn, calling the aid to Hannity "a risky thing to do."

But Huntsman's campaign manager, Jason Chaffetz, called the political benefit "obvious."

"It probably wouldn't be able to happen without us," Chaffetz said. "It will give everybody a chance to hear a Republican view of the world, and that's obviously in our best interest."

Huntsman's Democratic opponent, Scott Matheson Jr., used the episode to take a modest political swipe.

"I am encouraged they are seeing the value of political balance in Utah," he said. "That must mean I have a good chance of being elected governor."

Bassi hinted at pressure by faculty and administrators to "cancel" the Moore appearance, but he remains undaunted.

"I don't regret my decision at all," he said. "It was a decision based on principle."

djensen@sltrib.com

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Tribune reporter Dan Harrie contributed to this story.