DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, May-December 1971 | 1971-11-16 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Student-Police Panel Discussion Centers Around Past Demonstrations"" Page 1

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Student protests, May-December 1971

1971-11-16 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Student-Police Panel Discussion Centers Around Past Demonstrations"" Page 1

P-C 
Nov. 16 1971
p.1 (of 2)

- 'Not a Single Question' Raised About H

Student-Police Panel Discussion Centers 

By MYRON A. KAUTSCH
Of the Press-Citizen 

With the dark shadows of student-police confrontations looming large, local lawmen and University of Iowa students jousted verbally Monday night mostly regarding protest demonstrations in the last four years. 
They sat on a panel at a meeting formed for the purpose of discussing how to improve police-student relations. 
The meeting, attended by about 140 persons in Philips Hall at UI ran for approximately two hours. 
Moderator William Sueppel, a local attorney, cautioned panelists at various points against centering too much on the past. He was moved to ask that they did not turn the meeting into a fault finding exercise regarding who was to blame for various actions during confrontations at past student demonstrations. 
Topics of discussion concerning recent demonstrations included questions about who provoked demonstrators to damage property, how lawmen should have dealt with agitators, what was the role of student monitors, how well lawmen were prepared for act on and whether they justifably shot tear gas into certain dormitories this spring. 
In a more future-orientated vein panelists cited a need for more comprehensive coordination planning and guidelines for action by local law enforcement agencies; and increased day to day interaction between lawmen and students. 

Sueppel expressed regret concerning a lack of discussion about the day to day relationships between students and lawmen in Iowa City 

"There wasn't a single question about it," he declared. 
Among members of the audience was City Manager Frank R. Smiley accompanied by Police Chief Patrick J. McCarney, whose plans to attend were not definitely made known until Monday. 

Two of McCarney's men participated on the panel. They were Patrick L. Harney and Charles E. Arnold.

Altogether, six lawmen participated, representing "line officers" from UI Campus Security, the Iowa High Patrol, the Sheriff's Department and the Police Department. Also, seven students appeared on the panel. 

The meeting itself drew criticism from more than one quarter. Students from the panel and the audience questioned whether the meeting actually was a "PR thing" having more to do with public relations for local law enforcement than with student police relations. 
Sueppel said that if "both sides haven't learned something from this it's a failure, and not just learn something, but put it into practice"

Also, lack of audience attendance by students was noted Richard Bartel, a student panelist, criticized the Daily Iowan for failing to inform students about the meeting. 

Susan Ross, another student panelist, questioned whether the Sheriff's Department adequately had publicized the meeting and said there had been "absolutely zero publicity" on campus. 

A highlight of the meeting was an exchange between panelists and Dean Blake, a Daily Iowan editor, sitting towards the rear of the audience. In what mildly may be characterised as a loud voice, he persisted in demanding to know what kind of behavior a taxpayer could expect from lawmen whose salaries he pays. 
Responses to the question

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P-C Nov. 16 1971 p.1 (of 2) - 'Not a Single Question' Raised About H Student-Police Panel Discussion Centers By MYRON A. KAUTSCH Of the Press-Citizen With the dark shadows of student-police confrontations looming large, local lawmen and University of Iowa students jousted verbally Monday night mostly regarding protest demonstrations in the last four years. They sat on a panel at a meeting formed for the purpose of discussing how to improve police-student relations. The meeting, attended by about 140 persons in Philips Hall at UI ran for approximately two hours. Moderator William Sueppel, a local attorney, cautioned panelists at various points against centering too much on the past. He was moved to ask that they did not turn the meeting into a fault finding exercise regarding who was to blame for various actions during confrontations at past student demonstrations. Topics of discussion concerning recent demonstrations included questions about who provoked demonstrators to damage property, how lawmen should have dealt with agitators, what was the role of student monitors, how well lawmen were prepared for act on and whether they justifably shot tear gas into certain dormitories this spring. In a more future-orientated vein panelists cited a need for more comprehensive coordination planning and guidelines for action by local law enforcement agencies; and increased day to day interaction between lawmen and students. Sueppel expressed regret concerning a lack of discussion about the day to day relationships between students and lawmen in Iowa City "There wasn't a single question about it," he declared. Among members of the audience was City Manager Frank R. Smiley accompanied by Police Chief Patrick J. McCarney, whose plans to attend were not definitely made known until Monday. Two of McCarney's men participated on the panel. They were Patrick L. Harney and Charles E. Arnold. Altogether, six lawmen participated, representing "line officers" from UI Campus Security, the Iowa High Patrol, the Sheriff's Department and the Police Department. Also, seven students appeared on the panel. The meeting itself drew criticism from more than one quarter. Students from the panel and the audience questioned whether the meeting actually was a "PR thing" having more to do with public relations for local law enforcement than with student police relations. Sueppel said that if "both sides haven't learned something from this it's a failure, and not just learn something, but put it into practice" Also, lack of audience attendance by students was noted Richard Bartel, a student panelist, criticized the Daily Iowan for failing to inform students about the meeting. Susan Ross, another student panelist, questioned whether the Sheriff's Department adequately had publicized the meeting and said there had been "absolutely zero publicity" on campus. A highlight of the meeting was an exchange between panelists and Dean Blake, a Daily Iowan editor, sitting towards the rear of the audience. In what mildly may be characterised as a loud voice, he persisted in demanding to know what kind of behavior a taxpayer could expect from lawmen whose salaries he pays. Responses to the question