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From The Post of Ohio University, Sept. 21, 2010

Interrogation proponent ignites controversy

By Adam Wagner, Culture Editor

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

The October visit of one of the Bush Administration's torture memo authors has sparked controversy among Ohio University students and faculty.

John Yoo, deputy assistant attorney general from 2001 to 2003, will deliver a lecture titled "Crisis and Command: A History of Executive Power from Washington to Obama" at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 in Baker University Center 240/242.

Yoo, a professor at Berkeley Law School since 1993, is a controversial figure because of his office's involvement in writing memos justifying the use of "harsh interrogation techniques," including waterboarding, stress positions and sleep deprivation.

Robert Ingram, a professor in the history department and director of the George Washington Forum, which is hosting the event, said he wants to bring speakers to OU that students may not often hear.

"I try to keep an eye out for what I call 'counterintuitive' speakers, people who just seem inherently interesting," he said. "I suspect ... that everyone would agree he's a consequential figure."

Some students, however, say OU shouldn't offer Yoo a forum.

"It's not the type of dialogue that we want to have, because we feel that bringing him here is condoning his actions as well," said Kait Leugers, a senior studying history. "And we think it reflects poorly upon our university."

Kevin Berry, a senior studying history, said he does not object to Yoo speaking because of his ideology.

"We have an objection to John Yoo because of the fact that he has a disregard for rule of law and he has a disregard for basic human rights," Berry said.

Ingram acknowledged that universities are a place where conversations about controversial topics can be discussed in a civil manner.

"I view everything we do here as a mosaic," Ingram said, "and I see this as one small part of that mosaic."

The George Washington Forum, which is founded in part by a grant from the Charles Koch Foundation, is paying Yoo $2,000 to speak at OU.