Walk out protesters did not make their case well

TO THE EDITOR:

The decision of many to leave in the middle of the speech by former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo last night was, first, disrespectful. In addition, buying up tickets merely to walk out on a speaker is not democratic in any shape or form.

There is nothing wrong with holding protest signs or staying to question Tancredo in the session that was held at the end (not that any of them would know), but just discounting a speaker with different views than your own is wrong.

In addition, the protesters should have made it clear exactly the reason they were walking out. In this way, they would be effectively championing their cause, instead of making themselves look intolerant.

A university campus is a place where all ideas and opinions should be shared and debated. It was clear that for some, listening to a congressman with a differing opinion was too much to handle, and so they promptly left to go “party” in the Pit. Their attempt at making a political statement against Tancredo failed, and the only people, in the end, that looked bad were themselves.



Matt Oakes
Freshman
Political Science