Pentagon Papers author to speak on campus Friday

The man famous for authoring the Pentagon Papers, Daniel Ellsberg, will speak from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday at the IU Auditorium.\nThe IU Student Association Assisted Inter-Organizational Development group and IUB American Civil Liberties Union are sponsoring the lecture. \nEllsberg will speak about his involvement with the Pentagon Papers, a 7,000-page long classified document exposing the government’s internal planning during the Vietnam War era. \nThe work includes the documentation of scandals such as the purposeful engagement in activities to advance war, as well as lies the Nixon administration told the American public. After Ellsberg leaked them, the Pentagon Papers helped end the Vietnam War. \n“I think it’s a unique experience to understand why he did what he did,” said Alex LoCicero, the president of the newly formed IUB American Civil Liberties Union. He said students should attend the event because Ellsberg provided the leak that ended the war. \nEllsberg will also speak on the topic of whistle-blowing, the act of informing about an illegal activity. \n“He’s obviously very accomplished and very well-known,” said Director of the IUSA AID Kellen Hubert, adding that crowd turnout should reflect that. \nThis event will serve as a call-out meeting for the the IUB American Civil Liberties Union, which just recently became a campus group. \nLoCicero added that this is a chance to pick up where the previous president of the IUB American Civil Liberties Union, Herman B Wells, left off years ago. \nBesides lecturing, Ellsberg will host a 40-minute question and answer period for those who might not be able to stay for the entire program. The question and answer period will run for the first half of the event. \nBoth groups spent $7,500 to cover the IU Auditorium fees and the honorarium for Ellsberg.