Protesting Ad, Brown Students Seize Papers

A coalition of Brown University student protesters removed all copies of the Brown Daily Herald from campus distribution points last Friday in protest against the paper's publication of an ad by David Horowitz.

The ad, entitled, "Ten Reasons Why Reparations for Slavery Is a Bad Idea--and Racist Too," was submitted to several newspapers across the country.

The outraged coalition of Brown students demanded that the Herald donate the money received for the ad to "Third World," or minority, organizations on campus, and to give the protestors advertising space.

But when the Herald refused to meet the coalition's demands, the students removed the papers from campus distribution sites.

Jahred Adelman, executive editor of the Herald, countered earlier news reports of violence on the part of the coalition.

According to Adelman, nearly 40 students entered the Herald's lobby on Wednesday night to press their demands. They were asked to return for a meeting the next evening.

But rather than the expected contingent of student leaders, 50 to 60 students came on Thursday to voice their request.

"We were threatened indirectly that if we did not do something by next week, our paper would not be read," Adelman said.

And the next morning,, the papers were gone.

"Just about every paper had been stolen," Adelman said.

In a statement issued by the student protesters, they claimed that the advertisement "solicits funds in order to further a maliciously misinformed and intentionally misguided political project."

Student protestors said they believe their course of action to be justified, and cannot be called theft since the paper is distributed for free.

According to Adelman, the coalition has also demanded that the Herald remove "Brown" from its name and terminate campus distributions.

In their news release, the coalition said the Herald was not a legitimate student paper.

In response to the coalition's actions, Adelman said the Herald will reduce its distribution to three locations.

Adelman said that long-term actions by the Herald may include legal action and the placement of student guards at distribution sites.

The Herald distributed on Saturday a special reprint of 1000 copies of missing papers in the main dining hall under the supervision of a police guard.

Much to the staff's delight, they "received a lot of support from the students," Adelman said.

A flurry of mail and web postings by students, parents and alumni have offered support for the Herald. The university has also added its sympathy, Adelman said.

"We're upset...that this small group of students determined what could and what could not be read on campus," Adelman said.

Carl Takei, president of the Brown chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union rejected the coalition's claims to represent the interests of Brown minorities.

"[A]s a student of color, I am outraged that these protesters claim that they are acting on the part of the Third World community at Brown," said Takei. "The protesters' actions show a blatant disregard for free speech and free discussion...Stealing the newspapers was a spiteful and censorious act that, in my mind, can never be justified."