Last week's Milton S. Eisenhower (MSE) Symposium event with writer and moviemaker Michael Moore confirmed our previous optimism about this year's MSE schedule. Combined with the high turnout for Patch Adams, Ann Coulter and John Stossel, MSE has drawn more attention to its topics and speakers this year than any Symposium that we remember.
What event at Shriver has had students covering the Lower Quad?
For those outside, though, we understand the frustration of not being able enter the auditorium, especially those who arrived far ahead of time, as this page recommended, and still could not get into Shriver. We commend the audience, both those outside and those inside Shriver, for being respectful towards Moore and each other. While this speaker thankfully assuaged the frustration of those stuck outside by coming out to speak at length to the assembled mass, we know that this is not typical behavior. In some cases, such as the upcoming Nelson Mandela speech, which will be a video conference, this will not happen.
Some have noted that many of those who arrived early enough to get inside were not students, and have asked if the MSE organizers could give preference to students. We could not disagree more. The answer to large crowds that want to see an event is not to pick winners and losers, but to accommodate more students.
For those who think that MSE should give preference to Hopkins students, we note that such a proposal would defeat much of the point of the MSE. Their charter, as previously noted on this page, requires them to be a bridge to the community. According to the group, there are no plans to change this provision.
For that reason, we encourage MSE to resist any calls for reserved tickets, or any other preference to Hopkins students. The answer is instead to embrace the success that is this year's Symposium. Drawing a page from Moore's generous speech from the steps of Shriver, we suggest that the MSE attempt to set up video monitors -- as was suggested by many after the Patch Adams overflow -- inside classrooms in Shaffer and Maryland. For larger crowds, such as the one Thursday night, monitors or a movie projection screen could be set up on the Lower Quad itself. Another idea would be to broadcast the event on the Internet, perhaps seeking cooperation from WJHU. All of these ideas would provide access to the event for those unable to get a seat in the auditorium.
We recognize that this campus lacks an auditorium capable of holding enormous audiences. Organizers should embrace and accommodate their large turnout, not seek to restrict it. If MSE does not plan for its success, we fear that eventually people will assume they won't get in -- and then decide to stay home.
