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Student protests, 1972-1973

1972-03-07 University Memorandum from University President Willard L. Boyd Page 1

UNIVERSITY MEMO Office of the President
March 7, 1972
STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT WILLARD L. BOYD:

The University of Iowa recognized that the open marketplace of ideas is a prerequisite to effective education and a free society. Threats to the communication of ideas are inconsistent with both democracy and education. I wish to re-state this University's long-established policy on free speech, because of recent events which occurred here while I was coincidentally absent to take part in an educational conference in Brazil, and hence not in position to speak of these concerns before now

The University of Iowa is unequivocally committed to maintaining an open forum for all idea.  No person or group has the moral or legal right to interfere in any way, or for any reason, with the lawful expression of ideas by others. All University resources are committed to maintaining free speech on the campus, no matter how difficult this can occasionally prove to be when outsiders add a noisy and disruptive presence to the scene.

When Professor Herrnstein felt compelled to cancel his scheduled talk here recently, it represented a failure of our best efforts to maintain a forum for free speech. We will do our best to avoid a recurrence of such an unfortunate and other interested groups. Further, we will continue to take disciplinary action against those responsible for improper disruptions, where those individuals or organizations fall within University jurisdiction.

The circumstances that led to Professors Herrnstein's decision to cancel his talk were regrettable. Because he never started speaking, his scheduled speech was technically not disrupted. But the planned effort to prevent the speech from being given clearly caused the cancellation. We cannot tolerate that situation. My responsibility, and I believe that of the entire University community, is to apply fully the Regents' policy on campus speakers, both in spirit and in form. In providing opportunity for all on campus to hear diverse points of view, that policy requires adherance with advance arrangements for place and time of the meeting, and authroizes the president

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UNIVERSITY MEMO Office of the President March 7, 1972 STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT WILLARD L. BOYD: The University of Iowa recognized that the open marketplace of ideas is a prerequisite to effective education and a free society. Threats to the communication of ideas are inconsistent with both democracy and education. I wish to re-state this University's long-established policy on free speech, because of recent events which occurred here while I was coincidentally absent to take part in an educational conference in Brazil, and hence not in position to speak of these concerns before now The University of Iowa is unequivocally committed to maintaining an open forum for all idea. No person or group has the moral or legal right to interfere in any way, or for any reason, with the lawful expression of ideas by others. All University resources are committed to maintaining free speech on the campus, no matter how difficult this can occasionally prove to be when outsiders add a noisy and disruptive presence to the scene. When Professor Herrnstein felt compelled to cancel his scheduled talk here recently, it represented a failure of our best efforts to maintain a forum for free speech. We will do our best to avoid a recurrence of such an unfortunate and other interested groups. Further, we will continue to take disciplinary action against those responsible for improper disruptions, where those individuals or organizations fall within University jurisdiction. The circumstances that led to Professors Herrnstein's decision to cancel his talk were regrettable. Because he never started speaking, his scheduled speech was technically not disrupted. But the planned effort to prevent the speech from being given clearly caused the cancellation. We cannot tolerate that situation. My responsibility, and I believe that of the entire University community, is to apply fully the Regents' policy on campus speakers, both in spirit and in form. In providing opportunity for all on campus to hear diverse points of view, that policy requires adherance with advance arrangements for place and time of the meeting, and authroizes the president