Staff Editorial: The vice of secrecy

If you neglect to notice that Vice President Dick Cheney is on campus next Friday, you probably won't be alone.

The vice president will be in town for the dedication of Hunstman Hall to honor his friend -- and the building's primary donor -- Jon Huntsman. But, unless you are one of a very select few invited guests to the event, the visit by the No. 2 man in the White House is shrouded in mystery and secrecy that goes beyond merely limiting who can attend the actual event.

A simulcast of Cheney's speech originally planned from Steinberg-Dietrich Hall has been cancelled at the request of the vice president, eliminating the possibility that those interested in hearing his tribute to Huntsman will have that opportunity.

And don't expect to read about Cheney's remarks in the newspaper -- all media, including the University's own public relations staff and publications, are banned, again by order of the vice president's office.

To be sure, Cheney and Huntsman are close friends, and the vice president's visit is intended to honor and not to issue a policy statement. Still, the degree to which Cheney's speech is being kept a secret is absurd beyond words.

The whole ridiculous situation certainly could lead one to wonder why Cheney is coming to Penn at all. There are surely other ways he could honor his friend that do not require him to come to Philadelphia.

The concept of a "private dedication" for a building like Huntsman Hall is fundamentally flawed. It is the quintessential public building on campus. Not only is it the home of one of the University's four undergraduate schools, but it is a Penn landmark, towering over all of West Philadelphia.

There is not a single good reason for the entire University community to be frozen out for this high-profile visit. It is an anathema to the openness that Penn purports to cherish.

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