The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan reports an online petition has been set up asking the university to replace Rauner as a speaker at the May 16 commencement.
Rauner is scheduled to speak to graduates of the College of Business and the College of Education and Human Services in one of three graduation ceremonies that day.
Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and retired Air Force pilot Bill Norwood, the university's first black quarterback, are the other keynote speakers.
Campus officials say they want Rauner to get a firsthand look at the university's work. A campus spokeswoman says Rauner was invited in January, before the governor's February budget address.
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