OREM — Utah Valley State College students began circulating petitions Monday to nix filmmaker Michael Moore's speech and recall the student government officers who invited him.

Even though not all students were aware of who Moore is, the controversy over his Oct. 20 campus speech or the $40,000 he is being paid, UVSC senior Sean Vreeland said a majority have been willing to sign when told Moore directed "Fahrenheit 9/11," an indictment of the Bush administration.

But not recognizing Moore's name isn't a sign of ignorance, Vreeland said.

For him, it's more evidence that the filmmaker doesn't represent or interest the majority of students.

"In the big picture, a lot of students don't even know who he is because they don't keep up on what's going on and they haven't followed Michael Moore's career," Vreeland said.

But if students don't know who Moore is now, they are quickly learning and speaking out against him, he said.

Several students groups spent Monday seeking signatures from 10 percent of the student body — the first step in getting a recall election, which would give students the chance to veto the decision to invite Moore to speak on campus, as well as remove student government president Jim Bassi and vice president Joe Vogel from office.

A rally against the student leaders and their decision to host Moore is planned for Wednesday at noon in the school's Hall of Flags.

"I'm just a regular student who is sick of having to pay more and more student fees, and I'm upset if it doesn't go toward my education," Vreeland said. "I'm not going to school to be entertained by an extremist."

Aviation student Rickard Lindgren, who is circulating his own petition to recall the student officers, said the community has offered to help him, but he's encountered opposition from elected leaders in the student association.

Vogel insists, however, that he's not trying to kink the democratic process. In fact, he defends his decision on the grounds that it has encouraged political discourse among students.

Last weekend, $10 general admission tickets to Moore's speech sold out, but $5 tickets are still on sale and UVSC students may attend for free, although seating will be limited.

"I don't know that it's justified and I don't think that it will happen," he said of efforts to remove him from office. "But if they feel upset because we've chosen a certain speaker and if that's justification enough to get us kicked out, then they have the right to do that."

Vogel said that getting 2,415 signatures would send the issues to a vote. Then, to gain approval, two-thirds of students would have to vote in favor of a recall.