Allison was one of 88 signatories from Duke faculty The Duke Lacrosse Rape Case: The Signatories of the Chronicle Ad | Your America | Reader's Digest in an advertisement that appeared in the Duke student newspaper shortly after the Duke lacrosse case broke, quoting anonymous individuals proclaiming sexism and racism in the community and thanking protesters for "not waiting" and "turning up the volume." Following publication, the ad became a center point of controversy. Some argued that it represented a "rush to judgment" of the players, noting that it spoke of "what happened to this young woman" rather than "what allegedly happened to this young woman." Others, including Allison, called that opinion an "intentional ... misread[ing]," arguing instead that the ad addressed "longstanding issues" of "sexism, racism, and sexual violence." The players were later declared innocent by the Attorney General Roy Cooper, and Mike Nifong was disbarred and jailed.