Around this time three years ago, I wrote my first letter to The Herald. The letter was in response to the protests that occurred during a lecture by Richard Pearle, former chairman of the Defense Policy Board. During his lecture, which addressed academic diversity, a large group of students chanted, displayed signs labeling Pearle a warmonger and circled Salomon Center banging drums. The lecture was meant to be a forum on political diversity and balanced discourse in academia. The protesters showed a complete disregard for freedom of speech; instead of having the common decency to hear 15 minutes of opposition, they chose to drown out Pearle's words.
Before New York Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton's speech this Saturday, I reflected on the Pearle protest. Surely, I thought, there won't be protests at this lecture - Hillary's base is too strong at Brown, and nobody would protest at a women's leadership initiative conference. Unfortunately, I was wrong.
During Clinton's lecture, several individuals held up signs and chanted slogans, apparently demanding that Hillary vote to remove troops from Iraq. The protesters became so disruptive that they affected the delivery of Clinton's speech. It was unclear whether the individuals were students or community members, but, unfortunately, the incident reflects unfairly upon the students of Brown, who had no control over the conduct of their fellow audience members. If Brown strives to be an institution that fosters leadership and embraces intellectual debate, it is essential that we host events that retain professional decorum. Audience members must control their behavior, and Brown students must express their embarrassment at such actions.
The protests were not effective; they simply hurt the reputation of our school. There are appropriate forums for debate. You have the right to disagree with Clinton's decisions, but nobody is going to listen to your message if you act crazily, stand on your chair and shout unintelligible words that only the few people sitting around you can understand. Your message did not get to the senator. Your message did not get to the nation. Your message did not get to anyone. We tried to ignore you. If you want to make a difference, try being a leader. The senator was giving you advice on how to do just that. Try writing to the senator. Try writing to newspapers. Try holding debates. Try, at least, to be taken seriously.
The inaugural speech of the Doherty-Granoff Forum on Women Leaders was not an appropriate place for a war protest. The fact that protesters drowned out Clinton's speech, which addressed the struggles of women around the world, was simply unacceptable. I came to the lecture to hear an influential, successful woman address the issues of women's equality and international women's rights struggles. These are vital issues that should not be silenced for any reason.
Many expressed disappointment that Clinton's lecture was not particularly political. Our generation does not understand what the big deal is with women's equality - don't women now occupy the same roles as men in the workplace? Aren't there sexual harassment laws already in existence? Such questions are signs that our generation is dangerously unaware of just how recently women achieved equality in this nation. Our mothers and grandmothers have won these battles for us. We have been born into a time of immense opportunity. It is also easy to forget that most women in this world do not enjoy such liberties. We are of the first generation to benefit fully from the struggles of women in the past, and we must appreciate fully the opportunities that lie before us.
Clinton was attempting to convey such messages to the students of Brown University. I ask that the student body not be apathetic to the inappropriate behavior of demonstrators who tried to place their own personal agendas over the message of women's equality. Their childish behavior drowned out a vital message. The educational opportunities of future Brown students depend partially upon our ability to host influential lecturers, and in order to do this, we must maintain an open and inviting atmosphere. We cannot drown out the words of another, even if we may disagree with those words.
After three years as a columnist, I chose to write my last column for The Herald on the events that occurred this Saturday. I find that my message is the same as my first letter. To restate what I wrote in that first letter:
"Protesters, you conveyed your message loud and clear: we should ignore you."
Laura Martin '06 says farewell to The Herald.
