We commend the Justice Administration Club members and College Democrats for their efforts to get exonerated death row inmate Ron Keine to visit campus and tell his story Oct. 16.

Having speakers at Pitt-Johnstown enriches and stimulates our community members’ critical thinking.

Guest speakers can play an important role of enhancing an educational experience.

They expose listeners to real-world life experiences from the position of someone who has been there.

As a campus community, we are able to gain insight and perspective of the guest speaker’s particular experience.

People get a glimpse into the everyday life of the speaker.

Another added benefit is the link that it helps students build important connections between what they are learning and the real world.

Our campus slogan is to educate students for the real world.

By getting speakers from that so-called Real World to share their stories, we are able to live vicariously through them and their experiences and learn a unique perspective from someone.

The intense life experience shared by one speaker and the passionate display of a personal opinion by another provide enrichment that would otherwise be absent here.

We appreciate the Pitt-Johnstown organization members who take the time to invite guest speakers and organize these events.

We hope guest speakers will continue to be invited to Pitt-Johnstown and give us opportunities to benefit from the messages speakers have to deliver.

Inviting speakers to campus is a valuable tool that has an array of benefits.

We look forward to seeing what interesting stories individuals will bring to campus in the future.