Security preparations are underway for the Dec. 11 visit of controversial conservative David Horowitz, who is scheduled to speak at UW-Madison as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series.
Security is always tight when Horowitz travels to college campuses, said Stephen Brooks, a spokesperson for Horowitz and director of operations for the Center for the Study of Popular Culture.
\Mr. Horowitz always travels with two bodyguards,"" Brooks said. ""Depending on the size of the venue, there can be anywhere from four to 15 armed campus police.""
UW Police Lt. Glen Miller would not speak specifically of any plans DLS and UW Police are formulating, so as not to compromise security.
Plainclothes police officers are often in the audience of DLS speeches and will be Dec. 11, said Ann Hanson, a member of the DLS committee
Last spring, there were protests on campuses nationwide including UW-Madison, after Horowitz published an advertisement arguing against slavery reparations in several student newspapers. Horowitz recently published an ad attacking anti-war protests against efforts in Afghanistan.
""Horowitz plans to speak mostly about anti-war protests and how the left has taken over on college campuses,"" Brooks said.
Lilia Williams, program coordinator of the Multicultural Student Coalition, a group that participated in protests last April against The Badger Herald after it ran the Horowitz ad, declined to comment as to whether the organization was planning any organized demonstrations for Dec. 11.
Donald Downs, a UW-Madison political science professor, will introduce Horowitz, despite saying he does not agree with all of Horowitz's views. Downs said he was introducing him because of his own ""commitment to free speech ... and to the university.""
Downs said he thought there would be a reaction of some kind from groups on campus.
""He takes a very unpopular stance in a very provocative way,"" Downs said.
Brooks said he was puzzled by the negative reaction to Horowitz.
""I don't really know why there is such a reaction,"" Brooks said. ""There is really no way to know why there is such a violent reaction to a person's ideas.""
DLS kicks off tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Wisconsin Union Theater with the Spitfire Tour.
