Series brings status, cultural opportunities

Last night, Pitt had egg on its face. One of the world’s most influential politicians gave a… Last night, Pitt had egg on its face. One of the world’s most influential politicians gave a lecture Downtown and Pitt had nothing to do with it.

Pitt – the area’s largest and arguably best-known university – sat by as its smaller and lesser-known neighbor, Robert Morris University, brought Benjamin Netanyahu to Heinz Hall.

Part of the Pittsburgh Speakers Series, Netanyahu came as the first of seven major figures in entertainment and government, including Walter Cronkite and Frank McCourt among others. According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, RMU views the decision to bring the Speakers Series to Pittsburgh as consistent with its role as a university. It’s an effort to “bring more culture and education to the region,” the Post-Gazette quotes RMU spokesman Marc Weinstein as saying.

Like his politics or not, RMU is to be applauded for bringing Netanyahu and the series in its totality to Pittsburgh. Certainly, this is a tremendous accomplishment in the effort to expand Pittsburgh’s cultural and educational opportunities.

RMU is also to be congratulated for bringing the city prestige with the series. While Pittsburgh is nationally ranked as a cultural center, the likes of Netanyahu and Cronkite can only expand Pittsburgh’s reputation.

Netanyahu’s lecture is a clear demonstration of the series’ power to bring culture, education and public discussion to Pittsburgh. In addition to the value of his lecture outright, his presence stirred two protests – one protesting his presence and the second protesting the first protest. Beyond providing the audience with his thoughts and insights, Netanyahu’s presence gave rise to public discourse on global politics, particularly conflicts in the Middle East. Thus his lecture was doubly educational – both in the lecture itself and in the discussion surrounding it.

Other speakers, especially as the series continues and develops, are likely to foster similar benefits.

It seems that Pitt could benefit from taking a page out of RMU’s book. While some Pitt students might consider RMU less than favorably – like the little brother school down the street – RMU has certainly one-upped Pitt. And the university’s done it in an areas Pitt considers itself highly – regional culture and education.

While various Pitt organizations bring well-known writers and, on occasion, big name political figures, such as Newt Gingrich, to campus, Pitt has never sponsored an affair of such magnitude as the Speakers Series. And at ticket prices for the series between $239 and $378, RMU is certainly sponsoring quite a high profile event.

Considering Pitt’s assets in terms of facilities and leaders, it’s hard to believe the University should allow itself to be outdone – especially if tickets can fetch such a price. One can only hope that someday soon, the Petersen Events Center, or even a rented Carnegie Music Hall, will host a series of similar prestige.