Last Wednesday, David Cole protested the speech of Shell Oil Co. President John Hofmeister's speech during the Global Agenda lecture series. Cole, a former Delaware Technical and Community College student, sat on stage with his back toward Hofmeister for 45 minutes, spoke out of turn and resisted arrest from police.
While freedom of speech and expression of opinions should especially be encouraged in a university setting, it seems Cole went too far with his response to Hofmeister.
Rather than expressing his opinions as someone who was well-versed on the issue, Cole sat on stage to make a statement about how he felt. By overstepping Hofmeister's ground, he only presented himself in a threatening light.
It was clear Cole had a point to make, but it was not made clear.
If Cole had sat in the audience with everyone else and respectfully listened to the lecture, perhaps he would have been given more of an opportunity to speak. Moderator and communication professor Ralph Begleiter refused to let Cole ask questions because of his inability to respect Hofmeister.
Cole's point also may have been taken more seriously if he had stuck with the general guidelines of a guest lecture. Instead of having others leave the lecture and think about why he disagrees with Shell Oil's policies, other attendees only remember him as 'that guy who got arrested.'
The university did the right thing by having Cole removed from the lecture.
He posed not only as a distraction to others who wanted to see the lecture, but also as a threat to the lecturer himself. It is better to be proactive if a protester begins to get out of hand.
There is no reason for Cole to have caused such dramatics during the speech.
He has every right to protest what he feels, but there is a line which should not be crossed.
Lecturers deserve a certain respect, whether or not you agree with their ideas.
Cole should be an example as to how not to peacefully protest.
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