Thursday, 4:30 PM
Harvard dean stands by invite to former Iranian president
By Marcella Bombardieri and Maria Sacchetti, Globe Staff
CAMBRIDGE -- The dean of Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government Wednesday defended the decision to invite Mohammad Khatami to speak on the eve of Sept. 11, saying the United States needs dialogue with its enemies.
"Do we listen to those that we disagree with, and vigorously challenge them, or do we close our ears completely?" Dean David Ellwood said in an interview with the Globe.
Ellwood said he was disappointed in Governor Mitt Romney's refusal to give state protection to the former Iranian president during his visit. (Boston Police have said they would help with security for Khatami, along with the State Department and Cambridge police.)
The dean said he approved the invitation, first proposed by faculty members when they learned that Khatami would be speaking at the United Nations. In deciding to invite Khatami, officials considered that he had been granted a U.S. visa, that he is working with the UN, and that he is "sometimes seen as reformer," Ellwood said.
Sept. 10 was the only time available, the dean said, and emphasized that Khatami would not be allowed to visit unless he were willing to take unscripted questions. A commemorative event is scheduled for Sept. 11.
Meanwhile, controversy over Harvard's invitation continued to mount Wednesday as a Boston-area Jewish group condemned his visit, and a talk radio host encouraged listeners to lodge complaints. Student views on the invite were mixed.
