Controversial general given Kelley award

Gen. Peter Pace, known for his time as the United States’ top military leader, as well as his support for the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy regarding gay soldiers, will be at IU today.

Pace is this year’s IU Kelley School of Business “Poling Chair” recipient. The award is funded by a gift from Harold Poling that is meant to bring leaders from around the world to meet with students.

This year’s choice is raising some eyebrows from student groups because of remarks Pace has made about the homosexual community.

The Chicago Tribune quoted Pace in 2007 saying, “I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts.”

Pace is the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he was the military adviser to the president, the secretary of defense, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff Web site.

IU’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual Student Support Services assistant Carol Fischer, is worried that bringing a speaker like Pace to IU might give students the idea that it is OK for people to be homophobic.

“General Pace is blatantly homophobic and seems to be proud of his bigotry,” said Fischer, a former Marine, in an e-mail. “At a time when many Fortune 500 companies are embracing GLBT employees, and at a time when the military is beginning to consider a repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ I find it disheartening the school would bring such a man to exemplify the qualities of leadership and patriotism.”

Pace will give a lecture at 4 p.m. today in the IU Kelley School of Business. He will also speak in a few business classes. In addition, there will be a separate question-and-answer session with student leaders who are concerned about his personal views, said Dean of the IU Kelley School of Business Dan Smith in an e-mail. Pace will also speak with Clorox Co. CEO Donald Knauss at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the IU Auditorium.

Smith said the school was aware of how Pace feels about homosexuality but said he is coming to speak about his leadership experience and not his own personal beliefs.

“Dean Smith has said he doesn’t see General Pace’s presence (as an) endorsement of his personal beliefs,” said IU spokeswoman Susan Williams. “He is here because of the wide range of experience that he brings as his time as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs.”

Smith said he invited Pace to speak to students because he saw him speak a couple years ago and was impressed by his level of leadership.

“General Pace’s public statements about his beliefs create a particularly valuable learning opportunity for students in that they may better understand how making one’s personal beliefs publicly known may affect a leader’s ability to lead,” Smith said.

Office coordinator for GLBT Student Support Services Doug Bauder said he is not familiar with Pace’s background but is going to attend the question-and-answer session with student leaders and Pace. He said it will give people an opportunity to openly talk about this and about leadership.

Smith said Pace is not the only controversial person to be named the recipient of the Poling Chair and to speak with students. Last year, CEO of Mattel toys Bob Eckert came to speak amidst the controversy of lead-contaminated products.