EDITORIAL: Bring campaigns to campus

Penn has an exciting chance over the course of the next year to bring the presidential candidates to the campus. Chances like these only come along once in four years. The University must work to ensure that the campaigns do not pass us by. The visit was arranged through the auspices of Penn's Presidential Speakers Series, which hopes to function as a focal point for efforts to bring the candidates to campus. This seems a promising approach, but there are certainly other opportunities as well. Perhaps the most obvious is the Republican National Convention, which will meet in Philadelphia this summer. While most students will not be around, the University will provide campus dormitories and hotels for housing -- ABC News has already booked the Inn at Penn. In addition, Penn stands to play a role in hosting some of the events, speeches and gatherings that will come swirling through town. Once students return to campus in the fall or before they depart in the spring, there will also be ample time to bring the campaigns to campus. The last presidential election saw President Clinton speak on Hill Field. There is no reason to believe that something similar is out of the realm of possibility this time around. Penn should also aggressively pursue the chance to host a presidential or vice presidential debate. While the competition to host such events is intense, it is well worth the cost. This year is also an opportune time to bring other prominent political figures to campus. Last week, Janet Reno spoke on campus. Tomorrow, Donna Shalala will do the same. Similar opportunities to bring cabinet members, political commentators and other state and national leaders to campus should also be pursued.