It utterly amazes me how much people can charge for an appearance - sometimes the fee doesn't even include travel and hotel and meal expenses! $10,000 is not a lot for an appearance fee - we've hired speakers for our annual recognition even that cost that much and the speakers don't have a well known 'name'. There was also a big stink when Rutgers attempted to hire Snooki for the commencement address a few years ago - objections were based upon her fee + because of what she represents.
That a University would hire someone like Snooki is so very sad. Does everything in the country have to be dumbed down?
I may have gotten some the details incorrect, but according to this link http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/01/us-snooki-idUSTRE7305LQ20110401 Snooki was paid $32,000 for a 2 hr town hall - the student activities fees budget paid for it. That's $2000 more than author Toni Morrison charges.
Discouraging.
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Yuna Kim says she will donate her Gold prize money of $45,000 from the World Figure Skating Championships to children with disability.