Administrators weigh in on Horowitz ad

Hours after a group of concerned activists asked for "a public statement that articulates the University's position" on the Indiana Daily Student's decision to run David Horowitz's controversial slavery reparations ad, two of IU's top administrators commented on the issue Thursday.\nIn statements through University spokeswoman Susan Dillman, IU President Myles Brand and Bloomington Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis said they wished the IDS would have offered immediate debate to contradict the advertisement,"Ten Reasons Why Reparations for Slavery is a Bad Idea -- and Racist Too," which ran in the April 13 edition.\nThe ad argues -- among other things -- that blacks have received "trillions" of dollars through public assistance and other governmental programs. It claims that no further action is necessary. Horowitz presented the ad to 73 college newspapers -- 28 have printed it.\nIn their list of demands propagated at a noon rally Thursday at the Sample Gates, black student leaders asked "that the IDS consult with IU diversity administrators and leaders before publishing racist material."\nIn a statement, Brand said he disagreed with the ad but did not want to interfere with free press issues. \n"I found the ad appallingly provocative," Brand said through Dillman. "I strongly disagree with the content of the ad, but I would not interfere with the free press. It would've been best if the IDS had provided an opportunity for immediate debate on the ad."\nGros Louis agreed with Brand, saying the IDS should have used editorial or advertising space to refute the ad.\n"This must have been a very difficult decision for the IDS," Gros Louis said. "In retrospect ... it would have been preferable for them to provide an opportunity for opposing views in the same issue and on the same day."\nBrooke Ruivivar, IDS editor in chief, said the paper gave ample opportunity for concerned groups to voice their concerns as quickly as possible. She said it is IDS policy not to solicit outside input on advertisements before running. She said the IDS has since run numerous pages of reader letters concerning the ad.\n"It ran on a Friday, which meant the earliest debate that could have happened would have been on Monday," Ruivivar said. "Several concerned students met with me late Sunday night asking for something to be published in Monday's paper. But they didn't come until 9:30 (p.m.), and our opinion deadline was noon. We accepted a column from students and printed it Tuesday, the earliest we could"