DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, May-December 1971 | 1971-05-08 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Aboard the Draft Bus--Reporter Has Role Reversed"" Page 1

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Student protests, May-December 1971

1971-05-08 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Aboard the Draft Bus--Reporter Has Role Reversed"" Page 1

P-C 5/8/71 p.1 (of 2)

Aboard the Draft Bus - 

Reporter Has Role Reversed

Editor's Note - Press-Citizen reporter Mark F. Rohner has covered a number of draft protest and antiwar activities here during the past few months, including the blockings of draft buses at the Post Office. On Wednesday, he found himself on the other side of the notebook as it were - being among those destined for Des Moines and a pre-induction physical. This is his account.

It was a little like going out on assignment when I arrived at the Iowa City Post Office early Wednesday morning. 
Several fellow newsmen shouted hello and I stopped to discuss the event they had gathered to report. Continuing toward the building, I waved at a couple members of the Iowa Peace Action Committee and some of the policemen I see on my daily runs to Police Headquarters. 
The newsmen, police and crowds were elements of dozens of protests I'd witnessed before as a reporter 
But this one was a little different. 
One of the reasons the crowd
MARK F. ROHNER
had gathered was to express support for me and about 20 others for whom the whole event had been arranged. 
Another reason was to express disapproval of the system that brought about the scene in the first place. 
The system is the Selective Service System and the 20 of us were to leave from the Post Office to undergo pre-induction physical examinations at Fort Des Moines, 
We dutifully reported at 5:15 a.m. to the Post Office lobby where hands thrust in trouser pockets, some of my companions leaned against walls while otthers paced apprehensively in front of windows. 
Whether because of the early hour, indifference or worry over what would happen in Des Moines, most members of our group seemed to ignore the protest outside. 
A few watched from a window along with two members of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. 
One of those by the window a stocky man with short blond hair, was telling the women "I've been against the Vietnam war since 1965"
They smiled their approval . Then he said, "But I think we ought to blow Cuba off the map,"
The conversation was short-lived. 
Meanwhile, the bus had drawn up in front of the build 
BUS Turn to Page 2A

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P-C 5/8/71 p.1 (of 2) Aboard the Draft Bus - Reporter Has Role Reversed Editor's Note - Press-Citizen reporter Mark F. Rohner has covered a number of draft protest and antiwar activities here during the past few months, including the blockings of draft buses at the Post Office. On Wednesday, he found himself on the other side of the notebook as it were - being among those destined for Des Moines and a pre-induction physical. This is his account. It was a little like going out on assignment when I arrived at the Iowa City Post Office early Wednesday morning. Several fellow newsmen shouted hello and I stopped to discuss the event they had gathered to report. Continuing toward the building, I waved at a couple members of the Iowa Peace Action Committee and some of the policemen I see on my daily runs to Police Headquarters. The newsmen, police and crowds were elements of dozens of protests I'd witnessed before as a reporter But this one was a little different. One of the reasons the crowd MARK F. ROHNER had gathered was to express support for me and about 20 others for whom the whole event had been arranged. Another reason was to express disapproval of the system that brought about the scene in the first place. The system is the Selective Service System and the 20 of us were to leave from the Post Office to undergo pre-induction physical examinations at Fort Des Moines, We dutifully reported at 5:15 a.m. to the Post Office lobby where hands thrust in trouser pockets, some of my companions leaned against walls while otthers paced apprehensively in front of windows. Whether because of the early hour, indifference or worry over what would happen in Des Moines, most members of our group seemed to ignore the protest outside. A few watched from a window along with two members of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. One of those by the window a stocky man with short blond hair, was telling the women "I've been against the Vietnam war since 1965" They smiled their approval . Then he said, "But I think we ought to blow Cuba off the map," The conversation was short-lived. Meanwhile, the bus had drawn up in front of the build BUS Turn to Page 2A