From Richard Ely in the late 1800s to Kevin Barrett in 2006, the University of Wisconsin has a long, proud history of protecting unpopular ideas and promoting the principles of free speech and academic freedom.

Last week, controversy descended on UW again — this time on law professor Leonard Kaplan, over comments he allegedly made about the Hmong community in a Feb. 15 lecture.

According to an e-mail sent to several law students, which was acquired by The Badger Herald last week, Mr. Kaplan made several eye-popping statements, including "Hmong men have no talent other than to kill" and "All second-generation Hmong end up in gangs and other criminal activity."

While it may be easy to lash out and condemn Mr. Kaplan as a racist, we urge restraint — especially among those who did not hear the comments firsthand — and accordingly commend UW administrators and students for responding in a civil and reasonable manner.

Although Mr. Kaplan has since distanced himself from these comments — he told the Capital Times he was "misunderstood" and has "nothing but great respect" for the Hmong community — his right to make such provocative statements must not go undefended.

As UW political science professor Donald Downs, a prominent defender of academic freedom and rights, told The Badger Herald last week, "We want professors to speak with what they see as their truths." And though Mr. Kaplan's comments might have been used to simply illustrate stereotypes, this incident should not dissuade other professors who may seek to express their own controversial views.

Hmong students concerned with Mr. Kaplan's remarks held a meeting on campus last Wednesday. Another more public forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday in room 2260 of the Law School, to which Mr. Kaplan has reportedly been invited to attend.

We hope he accepts their invitation and presents his honest views on the Hmong community, and we also hope he makes perfectly clear the example he attempted to illustrate in lecture last week. While issues of race rightly invoke emotional responses from members of the campus community, it is crucial we maintain our commitment to civil discourse and the principles of academic freedom.