Drawing over 1,200 members of the Penn community, SPEC's Evening with Karl Rove was, by all accounts, a success.
Unfortunately, the evening was tarnished by a couple of students more interested in venting their anger than participating in civil discussion.
Some used the opportunity to launch into mini-tirades against the former White House Chief of Staff. And although Rove took it in good stride, these outbursts reflect poorly on the University.
There are times - basketball games, for instance - when it's appropriate for students to let off a little steam. But when the University invites an important, albeit divisive, political speaker, it behooves students to ask thought-provoking and intelligent questions. After all, controversial speakers won't want to come to Penn if they can only expect to be heckled.
Students can disagree with someone's political positions or beliefs. Harassing speakers, on the other hand, not only harms Penn's reputation but also diminishes the University's ability to serve as a forum for a reasoned exchange of ideas.
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