Campus flap over O aide’s speech fee

Former Obama administration aide Valerie Jarrett found herself in hot water in her adopted hometown Tuesday for agreeing to take a $30,000 speaking fee from a public university that’s strapped for cash.

Jarrett, President Barack Obama’s adviser and confidante, eventually waived the fee for delivering a commencement address next month at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago after an outcry over the payment, the Chi- cago Sun-Times reported.

The university shut down over spring break and also announced unpaid furlough days for staffers, the most recent in a string of measures taken amid financial problems caused by a lengthy partisan state budget debate.

The Sun-Times said a private donor agreed to pay Jarrett’s fee after university officials raised objections.

Jarrett insisted she didn’t know about the school’s financial issues and has since agreed to speak without charge.

“While keenly aware of the financial challenges in Illinois, we were not aware of the specific issues facing Northeastern Illinois University or that a donor would be paying for the speaking fee,” said Amy Brundage, a Jarrett spokeswoman.

“Jarrett notified [University] President [Richard] Helldobler this morning that she will not be accepting a speaking fee for the commencement address. Jarrett looks forward to addressing the graduates and other members of the NEIU community next month.”

University board members were not amused about paying so much for a speaker at a time when the school is struggling to survive.

To stay afloat, the university is forcing faculty and staff to take unpaid days off as way to offset a budget crisis caused by state cuts to higher education.