Controversial Princeton prof. to speak publicly

PRINCETON, N.J. (U-WIRE) - The Princeton University community got its first public glimpse of Peter Singer last night when the Australian bioethicist took the stage in McCosh 50 to debate Adrienne Asch, a blind professor from Wellesley College.

Singer said he suggested Asch's name to Princeton's Bioethics Forum - the group sponsoring tonight's event - both because she is handicapped and because she has written extensively on issues related to disabilities and bioethics.

The university's only professor of bioethics has not shied away from the spotlight since arriving at Princeton, appearing in The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine to discuss everything from his mother's affliction with Alzheimer's disease to his proposals for ameliorating world poverty. Tonight will mark only the latest instance in which Singer has allowed himself to be thrust into the public eye. But Singer said yesterday he has not specifically sought opportunities - such as tonight's debate - to publicly discuss his views.

"I think there's nothing particular about the past few weeks except for the number of occasions I've had to write or be written about," Singer said.

He added that he has ignored the debate over his right to teach at the university, which has included calls from trustee and presidential hopeful Steve Forbes to dismiss Singer and a protest last month in which activists blocked the entrances of Nassau Hall.

"I never thought that there was the slightest possibility that Princeton would go back on its undertaking," Singer said.

Media circus

Tonight's debate pr omises to be something of a media spectacle, with CNN, MSNBC, The Associated Press and National Public Radio having contacted the University to obtain press passes.

Dan Kraus '00, president of the Bioethics Forum, said his group has been planning to host a lecture by Singer for quite some time.

"We thought it would be more beneficial for the students if there was someone there who could challenge his views," Kraus said.

"He graciously accepted the offer to come speak," Kraus said of Singer. "He's willing to discuss most anything."

Asch is the Henry R. Luce Professor in Biology, Ethics and the Politics of Human Reproduction at Wellesley. She has authored numerous books and articles on disability, health care, feminism and bioethics and teaches classes on abortion, motherhood and genetics. This semester, Asch is teaching "Introduction to Reproductive Issues" and "Current Issues in Bioethics."

About 50 tickets for the debate were distributed to members of the public yesterday, leaving approximately 400 spaces in the auditorium for students. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and students will be required to present their IDs before entering the debate, which starts at 8 p.m.

University spokesman Justin Harmon '78 declined to comment about security measures that Public Safety is taking to secure McCosh 50 for tonight's event. But campus security personnel are expected to be out in force given the strength of recent protests against Singer.

The debate will be televised live on Tigervision. Students can also watch on their computers by accessing www.princeton.edu/webmedia.

10-13-99