WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP): Purdue University President Mitch Daniels says his trip to a conference in Georgia attended by several Republican presidential hopefuls was a chance to promote the school and meet potential donors.

The former Indiana governor says his decision speak at the American Enterprise Institute's private event in early March was appropriate despite his pledge to avoid partisan politics while leading Purdue.

Daniels tells the Journal & Courier he's attended the conference the past three years to learn.

Society for an Open, Accountable Purdue member Joe Perkins says he believes Daniels' attendance at such meetings breaks his promise to stop being a politician.

Daniels says that holds him to a double standard since other university presidents are free to attend similar think tank events without such scrutiny.