Palin set for closely watched speech after campus controversy

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) will deliver a highly anticipated speech Friday that has sparked controversy at its host venue.

Palin will speak Friday at California State University at Stanislaus in one of the few engagements she's held where media will be allowed.

But the stage has been set for a potentially cool welcome for the 2008 vice presidential candidate and potential 2012 presidential candidate.

Students and faculty at the Cal State affiliate have voiced complaints over the Palin appearance, particularly over the speaking fees the top GOP figure will command for her appearance. Attempts to file freedom of information requests with the school to disclose Palin's fees were denied, though the school's president is set to say how much Palin was paid following her speech.

Tickets for the dinner do cost $500 per plate, though, and the CSU Stanislaus Foundation, the group which is formally hosting Palin, told the Turlock Journal that it could raise as much as $200,000 from the event.

Still, the speech will be closely watched for its on-campus reaction and Palin's words to the audience. One of Palin's last major events where the media were allowed was her keynote speech before a national Tea Party convention in Tennessee.