Vice President Dick Cheney could be viewed as "evil personified or the right hand of God," but neither would be accurate portrayals, according to Scott Cooper, one of four BYU professors on a panel discussing Cheney's role in the War on Terror.
    "Both critics and supporters have failed to see the real Dick Cheney," he said, adding Cheney has been vilified on the left with weak evidence while the right refuses to ask tough questions about the morals behind his decisions.
    Cheney's visit has stirred controversy on the campus with demonstrations over an invitation to Cheney to deliver the university's commencement address on April 26. For the first time, BYU will require graduates to obtain tickets to the ceremony, limiting the number to four per graduate. If any are left, faculty, students and staff will be allowed two tickets each.
    "We don't know if we'll have enough for the public. It's important [that] the graduates and their guests are able to attend," said spokeswoman Carri Jenkins. The school is advising those attending graduation to arrive at least two hours early for security purposes.
    School officials still are debating where to allow demonstrations on the day of Cheney's speech, though events supporting and opposing the invitation to Cheney drew hundreds of students Thursday.
    Monday's panel discussion, hosted by BYU's Kennedy Center for International Studies, was arranged weeks ago in response to the university inviting Cheney to deliver the address, and not in direct response to the demonstrations, said Jeff Ringer, director of the center.
    The panel had three political science professors who opposed Cheney's policies and one who supported him.
    "In the political science department, it is difficult to find faculty supporters," Ringer said, adding he didn't select the panelists based on their views but rather their areas of expertise.
    Regardless, most students who attended were pleased to see the political discussions continue.
    "This is a really positive way of discussing the issue, and to raise student awareness of the fact that there are two sides to this," said Diane Bailey, president of the BYU College Democrats, who organized one of Thursday's demonstrations.
    Alan Hurst, a senior in political science, came to listen to his professor, Ralph Hancock, the lone Cheney supporter, speak.
    "When people ask 'What would Jesus do?' in this situation, the knee-jerk reaction is to say 'Be nice,' " Hurst said. "But as Dr. Hancock said, being nice isn't always what Jesus did. There is a need to be a national survivor and protect national honor."
    His colleague, political science senior Dave Wilks, was "impressed" by the discussion.
    "It's nice to see sophisticated discussion about this among colleagues who agree with each other on some things but disagree on others," he said. "They were able to civilly talk about why they didn't agree."
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    * SHEENA MCFARLAND can be contacted at smcfarland@sltrib.com or 801-257-8619.