None of this is to say that controversial or unpopular figures should never be invited to Harvard. In fact, there should be even more, but they should face questions that are tough and fair by audiences that are well-informed. After all, universities are and should be places for the vigorous exchange of ideas, and groups such as the IOP do an invaluable service by making this possible.

Rather, it is the responsibility of all of us--students, administrators, faculty and journalists--to ensure that murderers and thieves do not walk away from this university followed by the echoes of ignorant applause.

The problem is when the mutually reinforcing prestige of world leaders and the world's leading university converge, amidst a dearth of good background information. Not only do these leaders come home triumphantly smelling of ivy, but starstruck Harvard students flattered by receiving such pilgrimages are duped as well.

During my first-year, I remember reading a proud e-mail written by a fellow member of the class of 2001 about how wonderful he found his first week at Harvard. He recalled dining with a Nobel laureate and hearing an address by Grigoriy Yavlinsky. The latter he described (in the finest parenthetical name-dropping style) as the future president of Russia. Yavlinsky, a liberal politician and frequent Harvard visitor, is a laughingstock in Russia whose share of the presidential vote has never reached the double-digits.

Fortunately, many of the questionable personalities who come to (or come from) Harvard have dirt but not blood on their hands. A few, like Yavlinsky, are no more than sorry jokes back home. But what is truly frightening is how this cavalcade of distinguished people, both admirable and scurrilous, affects the egos of thousands of students who graduate from this institution.

There is an old joke that the World Bank and IMF recruit third-rate students from first-rate universities, but that's only half the story. The truth is that even very intelligent and well-meaning people can be taught not to think critically, and visits to Harvard by the Mahuads, Sheikh Hasinas, and Wambia dia Wambas of the world sometimes contribute to this.

After four years of being constantly reminded that they have studied under the best teachers and have had the opportunity to interact with the most important leaders of their generation, the reality is that many Harvard undergraduates do go on to fill the corridors and climb the ladders of power. And who knows, one day a few of them may even be invited to speak to students at the world's most prestigious university.

Darryl Li '01 is a social studies concentrator in Quincy House. He is founder and executive director of the Harvard International Monitoring and Action Group.