The timing could have been better for Salem State College, in Salem, Massachusetts, 21 miles outside Boston. Or, who knows? Maybe the timing couldn’t be better.

The public university pays big bucks to big names for its 26-year-old lecture series. (Speakers have included former presidents—Carter, Bush I, Bill Clinton—major writers—Maya Angelou, Tom Wolfe—major media figures—Walter Cronkite, Thomas Friedman—activists—Jesse Jackson, Gloria Steinem.)