The Rev. Jesse Jackson is expected to speak on campus Sept. 15, MSU undergraduate student government officials said Thursday.

ASMSU has been working for four months to bring the civil rights activist and former presidential candidate to MSU, said Louis Brown, the ASMSU Student Assembly vice-chairperson. Jackson recently gave verbal confirmation to the visit and is expected to commit in writing this weekend.

“At first we wanted to do something on Sept. 11 for the healing,” Brown said, “but we thought it would be better to do something on peace.”

Brown said Jackson’s speech would focus on “the struggle to find peace in violent chaos,” and the event will be called “Rally for Peace: From Fears and Tears to Hope and Harmony.”

Jackson is the president and CEO of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Inc., a group that aims to increase educational and employment opportunities for minorities. He ran for president in 1984 and 1988. MSU Trustee Joel Ferguson ran Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign in Michigan. Jackson won the Michigan primary.

The reverend’s last visit to MSU was in April 2000, when he addressed 170 student-athletes at an academic honors event.

ASMSU has brought other well-known speakers to campus in recent years, such as poet and author Maya Angelou.

Jackson’s speech is expected to be given at Breslin Center. Several student speakers tentatively have been scheduled for the program. Brown said the audience is expected at more than 6,000 people.

Student Assembly Chairperson Matt Weingarden said Jackson has agreed to come without a speaker’s fee. “That’s just amazing,” Weingarden said.

Ticket prices have not been announced and ASMSUwill pay for most of the event.

“A speaker like this can bring a new, fresh perspective, rather than to sit back and let either the status quo remain, or to let change happen,” Brown said. “But he will give the message to go and let change happen, and (say) ‘This is how you do it.’”