A controversial flier that included a racial slur distributed by Penn State Professor Emeritus Julian Heicklen was insensitive and ineffective to his cause. Heicklen, however, should not be reprimanded by the university for his actions.

The flier, titled "PSU Student as Nigger" equated the plight of Penn State students with discrimination against blacks, proved that Heicklen is out of touch with the state of the university today.

Heicklen claims to represent Penn State's student body.

Considering the university has a minority enrollment of 11 percent, he is doing a poor job of understanding and relating to all of the Penn State population.

Heicklen's flier was likely distributed for shock value and to draw attention to his work as a Libertarian Party activist, but the tactic backfired.

The very students Heicklen targeted for support have turned away from his campaign thanks to his racist rhetoric, and he's left some of the members of his own party feeling alienated from his cause.

The publicity stunt was a very bad idea.

Obviously, there are better ways to gain attention than by insulting and harming constituents.

And the timing of Heicklen's flier could not have been worse. As the Penn State community continues to grapple with issues of diversity and racism on campus, the flier could prove divisive.

But no matter how offensive Heicklen's flier and views may be, Penn State cannot and should not attempt to censure him.

The university has been graced by numerous events and speakers that insulted some students.

But Penn State has never taken an official stand for or against any of them.

Wisely, contentious opinions have been allowed to stand on their own merits in the name of free speech.

Attitudes, no matter how controversial, have not been silenced.

To officially rebuke Heicklen would go against Penn State's role as a marketplace of varied ideas and beliefs.

There is little doubt that what Heicklen did is wrong. But some controversial issues at Penn State have not been so clear cut, and a censuring of Heicklen would invite official stands for or against opinions that deserve to be aired.

The entire purpose of the univeristy atmosphere is one that caters to a variety of viewpoints on the world. Despite the fact that Heicklan's particular view is highly offensive to a large portion of the Penn State population, it's important that we hear it.

Students can and should speak out against what Heicklen has done and continue to demand an apology for proof that Heicklen understands just how serious an issue racism is.

But an official stand by Penn State against his views would be the first step toward a university where opinions are discouraged and censorship is welcome.