On April 30, Brandeis hosted two controversial figures. One was an award-winning American pornographic actress, while the other was a professor from the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Sasha Grey, the actress, came to Brandeis to promote her new film The Girlfriend Experience by notable director Steven Soderbergh. Bill Ayers, the professor, intended to discuss his rebellious and declarative past rather than his present academic standing. I chose to see Sasha Grey over Bill Ayers. The choice was easy. Even as Grey takes off her clothing, I believe that she will always be a figure of pride for this country. Grey started making adult films at a young age intending to create a new, sensual genre. Famous for outrageous and over-the-top scenarios in her movies, Grey is also known for declaring a feministic approach to pornography by putting more narrative and voice in the female role and adapting to a more plot-based graphic film. The audience for her premiere at the Edie and Lew Wasserman Cinematheque consisted of both men and women of all ages. There was a calm acceptance of the young starlet. She truly sells her belief about how she would like to pioneer a fairer, safer and more plot-based genre of adult films.

Although I definitely did not choose the same path in life as Grey did and I may furrow my brow when thinking of baring it all, what she does and envisions doing is completely and perfectly legal. The types of films Grey plans to change and replace currently give male viewers an inaccurate perspective on women and debase them sexually. But the bottom line is that pornography is legal and protected by the fundamental rights granted under freedom of expression in the First Amendment. With over 150 acclaimed movies and frequent promotions for getting tested for sexually transmitted infections and staying clean, Grey has no intention of breaking the law; rather, she endorses following it.

Also granted under the First Amendment is the freedom to disagree and contest others' opinions. Without this right, the United States would be an autocracy and not a democracy. Bill Ayers, however, is anything but proud of this country's democracy. Ayers was invited to Brandeis to discuss his radical anti-war movements in the 1960s, when he rallied underground violent protestors. Safe and reasonable public protest is fine, but Ayers' former organization, the Weather Under-ground, conducted a campaign to bomb public buildings and is loathsome to our country. Ayers participated in the bombings of New York City Police Headquarters, the United States Capitol building and the Pentagon, all targets that Al Qaeda terrorists attacked on September 11, 2001. Ironically enough, although Ayers became a professor in an attempt to work in education reform, curriculum and instruction, he has since expressed numerous times that he "didn't do enough" after setting the aforementioned bombs. On the grounds of Brandeis' academic honesty and integrity, I do not believe there was any reason to listen to condemnation of America from a person who clearly resembles a terrorist.

When discussing people whom Brandeis should invite to speak, think of the Nobel Prize winners and former presidents who can engage our generation in order to make our lives and country better. Even someone without notoriety but with a story, such as someone who has made positive change in our own community, would be a better and more spectacular speaker. Brandeis should show its excellence by striving for similar attributes in its speakers so that our time and attention is spent on being proud of the rights granted by this country rather than lamenting them.