'Firing Line' to tape episode on campus

December show to debate free speech The Firing Line debate show broadcast on PBS across the nation will be taping a two-hour episode on campus December 3. The show, which is hosted by well-known conservative syndicated columnist William F. Buckley, will have a panel made up of prominent political figures debating the issue of free speech in society. Firing Line producer Warren Steibel said he has yet to finalize the guest list, and will know in the next two weeks who will attend. "I have a tentative [list] but until I'm absolutely certain, I don't want to give any names," he said. "I have a lot of people who have said they will do it, but I'm still juggling a little bit." Steibel said the delicate business of mixing the right number of guests to make a good debate is sometimes difficult. "In a debate – and we've done a lot of them – part of the success is if you get a good mix of ideas," he said. "It's a lot like a dinner party. People must mix with each other and energize each other." Steibel said the idea for taping the show on campus was put forth by Interim President Claire Fagin. Fagin said Steibel originally asked her to be a guest on the Firing Line when its topic was health care reform a couple of months ago. When she said she could not attend because of a prior commitment, Fagin invited Steibel to tape a show at the University. Steibel periodically tapes shows on college campuses across the country. He said he couldn't think of a better place to tape a debate on free speech than at the University. "I wanted to go where people are the most passionate about this," he said. "With the victims or victors, the roots are right there. It's different when you're talking about Harvard. The water buffalo thing didn't happen at Harvard. It happened at the University of Pennsylvania." The free speech episode of Firing Line will air December 13 from 9 to 11 p.m. on Channel 12 in Philadelphia and various PBS stations across the nation. In addition to the Firing Line program, Steibel said he also plans to tape two half-hour segments in which a select group of six or seven students will discuss free speech with the panelists. "I wouldn't normally do the student taping," he said. "I'm trusting the impassioned feeling will make it a livelier debate." Steibel said the student programs will be taped immediately after Firing Line, but will be aired separately on some 300 PBS stations in the country sometime in December. He said students are invited to come to the taping of the show at the Harold Prince Theatre in the Annenberg Center, and he hopes the theatre will be "crowded with people."