Turnout at Bush forum a disappointment

I was quite disappointed at the turnout to Wednesday night's forum discussion on President Bush's speech. I expected to walk into an overfilled auditorium to a spirited debate complete with shouting and scrambling for microphones. When I walked in, there were even two TUPD officers in uniform by the entrances. These officers left before half of the speakers had spoken.

I arrived late and didn't have the privilege of hearing Dr. Steven Marrone speak during his allotted time, but I did hear the other four members of the panel voice

their opinions at the podium. Although I have the highest respect for Tufts faculty and was impressed with the words spoken by all members of the panel, I was disappointed that only two of the five panel members actually attended Bush's speech.

Sixty percent of the panel had no basis on which to speak about the stated topic of discussion. The forum in Cabot was prepared and advertised as "an open discussion of President Bush's speech for members of the Tufts community." Certainly the forum was an open discussion, but how could the faculty members of the panel accurately discuss President Bush's speech if they weren't even in his audience? The only two members of the panel that did attend the Fares lecture were also the only student-panelists, Zoe Hastings and Sam Dangremond. I applaud both of these students for their civility, reasoning, and forthrightness.

I am glad I attended Bush's speech and the discussion in Cabot; both were memorable and educational experiences for me. I certainly expected a larger turnout to the forum and I hope that students and Tufts community members like Adam Carlis ("Mistake of principles, not politics" Feb. 26, 2003), who specifically called for the event, attended. If they didn't attend the forum that they were calling for, then shame on them.

I hope that Tufts will give us more opportunities for extracurricular open discussions on controversial current events topics. My thanks go to President Larry Bacow, Dean Bruce Reitman, Father David O'Leary, and all of those involved in the production of this forum discussion.



Darrell Interess