Intellectual discourse chalked up a victory this week thanks to a friendly and respectful audience during Republican political operative Karl Rove’s speech in Memorial Hall Monday night.
The speech was hosted by UNC’s College Republicans and paid for in part by UNC student fees.
Many security guards were present at the speech, a deterrent from problems that political speakers have had at the past on UNC’s campus.
Apparently heightened security for controversial speakers is what comes with the territory with a student body as passionate as ours.
Most should remember last year’s chaotic speech by Tom Tancredo hosted by Youth for Western Civilization, was cut short due to rowdy protesters bent on silencing Tancredo’s presentation.
Rove received a standing ovation at two different points throughout the lecture. But students were barred from asking Rove questions directly. Instead, they were asked to submit questions to College Republicans Chairman Anthony Dent who handpicked the questions for Rove.
“We’ve had problems in the past with students taking up like ten minutes when asking a question,” said Dent.
While we are happy that the College Republicans pulled off a peaceful and respectful speech, we hope to see the day when security guards are no longer seen as a necessary evil at public events and students have greater liberty to ask questions directly to the speaker.
