UF, white nationalist Spencer will discuss new speech date

White nationalist Richard Spencer and the University of Florida plan to hold discussions next week to find a new date for him to speak on campus.

His attorney, Gary Edinger, said in an email Friday the discussion would occur “first thing” Tuesday, while UF spokesman Steve Orlando confirmed only that talks were set to occur early next week.

Earlier Friday, the university said in a letter it was willing to “make appropriate efforts to accommodate” the event planned by Spencer’s National Policy Institute, but not on Sept. 12, the day he had originally hoped to speak.

Edinger described talks with UF in recent days as “fruitful.”

“It appears that the University is committed to allowing Mr. Spencer to speak on campus as an exercise of First Amendment principles,” he said. “He will be treated in accordance with the same standards applicable to any speaker.”

UF had previously denied an application by the institute for the Sept. 12 event, citing recent violence during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va.

“It was never the intention of the University to permanently bar Mr. Spencer from speaking at an appropriate time and location at one of the University’s dedicated forums,” UF General Counsel Amy Hass wrote to Edinger on Friday. She added that, should Spencer apply for another date and time, the university will consider and try to accommodate the event consistent with UF policy and “important safety and security assessments.”

Hass’ letter was in response to one Edinger sent earlier this week, which indicated the National Policy Institute was willing to consider other dates but would likely file a federal lawsuit if the university refused to budge. Edinger argued UF had rejected the event not for security reasons but because its leaders disagreed with Spencer’s politics, which UF President W. Kent Fuchs described as racist and “repugnant.”

Spencer was one of several prominent “alt-right” leaders at the Charlottesville rally.