With conflict raging in the Middle East, Queen Noor of Jordan would seem an appropriate choice for the Social Planning and Events Committee Connaissance's fall speaker.
But the effectiveness of her message may be dulled by one problem -- several Penn students did not even know who she was before yesterday's announcement.
"This is the first time I've ever heard of her," College freshman Alyson Krueger said.
But despite that setback, many students think she will make a good speaker, mainly because her message -- which she will deliver on Oct. 8 in Irvine Auditorium -- promises to be pertinent to the world today.
"We wanted to bring a speaker who could shed light on current events," SPEC Co-Chairman and Wharton junior Jeffrey Shuster said.
"I think it's a good choice -- [it] relates to an important issue right now," Engineering senior Nick Chan said. "Many Penn students are concerned with the Middle East."
Students generally seem to feel that Noor's American roots, along with her leadership experience in the Arab world, lend her a unique perspective.
"I like that she's American," Krueger said. "I hope to see the Middle East through the eyes of someone with American and Arab relations."
"She brings a collective perspective to discussion about Islam and the Middle East," College junior and President of the Muslim Students Associaton Muhammed Mekki said.
And Noor's position as perhaps the most well-known female voice in the Arab world provides another unique view.
"I hope to see a woman's perspective on the Middle East, as well as the perspective from a country that has made peace with Israel, and has grown as a democratic society over the years," College freshman Adam Kamlet said.
College senior Melanie Mund, who chairs the Israeli sector on the Hillel Steering Committee, said the Hillel community is happy that the speaker is the leader of a nation at peace with Israel.
"We hope her talk will help educate the Penn community of the prospect of peace with Israel's other neighbors," Mund said.
Many students said they believe Noor can provide the balanced discussion necessary to debate so thorny a conflict as the Middle East.
"To tackle such issues that are oftentimes difficult to discuss... with her measured approach, she's an excellent choice," Mekki said.
"It's always important to hear both opposing views before making a decision," Shuster said.
Noor's campaigning on many other issues, including human rights, land mines and substance abuse, widens her appeal.
"She's a great model," Wharton senior Antonio Senra said. "She's interesting for so many reasons. I like what she stands for -- she's very charitable."
Other students, however, believe Noor may show too much royal reserve in her comments.
"With the money they have, [SPEC] could have picked someone who would be a little less diplomatic," College sophomore Jakob Engel said, adding that he thought a more controversial speaker would be more interesting.
Engel noted that he feels Noor will only make "very subtle criticisms" of both sides.
But many students do not think that a diplomatic approach will be a concern.
"While what she might say might not be invigorating or caustic, she'll have poignant things to say," Kamlet said.
Meanwhile, some students could not care less about what Noor has to say.
"I probably won't go," Chan said. "It costs money, and it's not much to do with me."
That does not seem to worry Shuster, though.
"We've had a positive reaction," Shuster said of the announcement about Noor's upcoming speech. "The majority of people I've spoken to are familiar with her."
