As Mexican President Felipe Calderon spoke inside the well-guarded John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, demonstrators outside protested his human rights and governmental transparency record with signs, drums and bilingual chants.
The crowd of Harvard students curious about their alumnus, who graduated in 2000 with a master’s degree in public administration, outsized the group of 50 or so protesters.
“President Calderon is one of our graduates and we are proud to have him here,” said Kennedy School Dean David Ellwood.
Calderon discussed growth and development in Mexico since his inauguration in December 2006. He said developing infrastructure is part of his plan to attract direct investment, and domestic issues, such as fighting drug lords and corruption, are a part of that effort.
Calderon said the United States and Mexico share not only a border but a responsibility to tackle immigration and drug-trade problems.
“Probably the worst thing that happened is the anti-Mexicans or anti-immigrants perception in the [American] people,” he said. “We are not the enemy. Americans are not the enemy in the Mexican people.”
Calderon did not acknowledge the protesters outside during his speech, and agreed with a Harvard student who expressed doubts about his educational reforms during a question-and-answer session.
“We need to work a lot on that,” he said. “I will count on your help for that reform.”
Harvard sophomore Mathew Ghazarian said Calderon diffused the tense situation with ease but did not directly answer criticism of his leadership.
“He’s got a way with words,” he said. “He had some hostile questions thrown at him and he really smoothed them over. On the same note, he evaded certain controversial topics.”
Harvard sophomore Eniko Horvath said she commended the president for avoiding the “controversial topic” of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.
“He was really diplomatic about that,” she said. “The Kennedy School of Government taught him well.”