A Civil Action: Ask a Question

Few opportunities set Harvard apart from other universities more distinctly than the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics (IOP). Every week, the Forum creates a venue for the greatest minds in the world to speak, for all to hear, about pressing issues of our time. The Forum has one simple rule: every speaker, irrespective of his or her rank, title, or stature, must stand before our community and answer any questions posed by the audience.

Several recent high-profile forum events, most recently a visit by Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas J. Feith ’75 on March 3, have prompted some—including The Crimson—to ask whether the process by which questions are asked should be adjusted so as to give some members of our community a reserved right to ask their question. This criticism contends that sometimes the freedom to ask any question results in questions that do not adequately challenge the speaker, inviting outbursts from disrespectful members of the audience. While no one is ever barred from asking a question, the IOP remains committed to making the Forum a venue in which the only barrier between an audience member and a world leader is the courage to step up to the microphone. Giving preference to particular groups or people undermines the premise of an open dialogue on which the Forum is founded.

The Forum was first envisioned nearly 30 years ago at the Kennedy School of Government (KSG) by Associate Dean Ira Jackson and then-Dean Graham Allison, now Director of KSG’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Allison proposed mirroring the Forum on the Greek agora, an arena of conversation, politics, philosophy, and commerce. Over the past 27 years, the Forum has attempted to embody these characteristics, hosting more than 1,700 events seen by live audiences totaling more than 500,000 people with millions watching on cable television, teleconferencing, and the Internet. Since its inception in 1978, heads of state, leaders in politics, government, business, labor, and the media have all come to the Forum to make their case to the Harvard community. That we have this opportunity to bear witness to this celebration of free speech and debate is unmatched both in quality and in volume at any other university in the world. We should not lose sight of how special this opportunity is.

The focus on discourse stems from our firm belief that a free exchange of ideas demands a dialogue not a soliloquy, and that the opportunity to ask tough questions of those in positions of power is a rare and important responsibility. The IOP remains committed to this principle in our effort to give students unparalleled access to decision-makers and theoreticians.

Our ability to attract guests to the Forum is largely predicated on maintaining a respectful arena of debate. In exchange for their time and interest, we treat our guests with civility and we expect all of those in attendance to do the same. We pride ourselves on cultivating this civil discourse in the Forum, and as a result, in the event that an audience member is disruptive the Forum staff will encourage them to be respectful. Often, the most effective way to discourage disruptive behavior occurs when fellow audience members verbally regulate themselves.

At Harvard, there are many ways to spend an hour on a weekday evening, but surely the opportunity to ask tough questions of leaders on issues that matter to us is an important one we should not squander. In a university known for attracting intellectually curious and engaged students, it is often surprising that more are not willing to come down to the Forum to ask the tough question or learn something new. It is our hope that more undergraduates will take advantage of the opportunity to learn from those who come to the Forum, and hold them accountable for their words and actions. The IOP will do its part to make sure that the steady stream of visionaries and leaders never ceases, and demand a civil environment—but it depends on students to create a thriving culture of debate and civil discourse.

The IOP remains committed to giving every student at Harvard the opportunity to engage with national and international leaders on issues that matter to them. For nearly three decades, the IOP has fulfilled this responsibility, but it is always eager to do more so that our generation is ready to assume the mantle of leadership that awaits us. It is up to us, as students, to take full advantage of it.

Craig M. Alpert ’06 is the Chair of the Forum Program at the IOP. David M. Kaden ’06, a Crimson editor, is the President of the Student Advisory Committee at the IOP. A detailed listing and schedule of Forum events is available online at www.iop.harvard.edu.