Salina ? The student governing group at Kansas State University’s Salina campus has reconsidered and will now help fund a transgendered speaker’s visit to campus.

The Student Governing Association recently voted to provide $600 to pay a speaking fee for Ryan Sallans. He will give a public presentation on transgender issues Nov. 23 and speak to classes in the university’s family studies and human services program Nov. 24.

The association had earlier rejected a request for $1,000 to bring Sallans to campus, but more than 50 students signed a petition to support his visit.

Shae Blackwell, student body vice president, says private donations will cover Sallans’ lodging and travel expenses. Blackwell says Sallans’ meetings with classes will be used to start a campus organization to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals.

The 30-year-old Sallans, of Lincoln, Neb., used surgery and hormone therapy to change from being a woman to a man.