By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press

PULLMAN, Wash. -- "I wasn't sure I was coming," author Michael Pollan told the audience during his lecture at Washington State University.

His book, "The Omnivore's Dilemma," was about to be yanked from the freshman Common Reading program last fall when food safety attorney Bill Marler stepped forward.

A former WSU regent, Marler provided the $45,000 to have Pollan speak. University administrators had cited cost and the concerns of a current regent over the book's criticism of production agriculture.

Some of the industry's "funders" don't appear to understand the role of universities and the place of academic freedom, Pollan said.

"They really do think simply by dangling their dollars or threatening to withdraw them they can shape the agenda of the university," he said. "What ended up happening is more debate rather than less, and I think that's really a good thing."

Marler said he found Pollan bright, personable and inquisitive.

"He's not just preaching at us," he said. "His ideas are developing as he's going along."

Marler said the next step for the university is to find ways to encourage the public to eat more healthful food and make policy shifts to address the issues Pollan mentioned.