DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, 1972-1973 | 1972-05-10 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Antiwar Groups Denied Use Of School Facilities Here""

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Student protests, 1972-1973

1972-05-10 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Antiwar Groups Denied Use Of School Facilities Here""

p-c May 10, 1972
Antiwar Groups Denied Use Of School Facilities Here
Representatives of several local groups opposed to the Vietnam war requested and were denied use of public school facilities for rallies, at the meeting Tuesday night of the Iowa City School Board.
Ken Swain, a spokesman for the New American Movement, asked use of the facilities for his group and the Association of Campus Ministers and Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.
School board member Philip A. Leff inquired whether the organizations were financially prepared to pay for damages should violence erupt at the rallies. Told they were not, Leff said he felt potential expense to the school district was too great a risk to grant permission for the gatherings.
Another board member, Ted H. Magnusson, asked Swain whether a church might not offer facilities, particularly since a campus ministry group was involved.
Swain said the only churches willing and equipped to make such an offer were located downtown, a high risk area for such activities. 
Acting director of secondary
the marchers arrived again at Burlington and Riverside, where they were shortly afterward met by lines of police.
As the wooden camper body blazed in the middle of the intersection two undercover officers arrested a youth in the crowd and pulled him off a waiting patrol car that was pelted with rocks as it sped away.
It was shortly after that incident that lawmen made their final sweep across the intersection, ending the night's demonstration.
During the night, two patrolmen were injured, Kenneth Carter of Monticello, who sustained a knee injury when he was struck by a rock, and Gary Swanson of Sioux Cty, whose foot was injured. 
Deputy Public Safety Commissioner Holetz said he regarded the demonstrations as "for the most part very peaceful."
"I think the law enforcement people recognized that," he said, and concentrated their efforts on "preventive" action. 
Although vandalism was light during the disturbance, there were a number of isolated incidents of property damage. 
At about 10:12 p.m., a tire covered with waste paper was set afire in an alley behind Little Caesar's Pizza Palace, 127 South Clinton Street. The fire was extinguished before the firemen arrived.
About 15 minutes later a fire bomb was thrown through a window at the Firestone store, 231 East Burlington Street, Firemen said Gordon Wieland, manager was working on the firm's financial records when the bomb was thrown. He put the fire out. 
Firemen said the damage was limited to the front of a wooden tire rack.
Downtown, Penney's Department Store, 130 South Dubuque Street, had a front glass door window broken. Police said a bottle was thrown through it.
Another glass door was broken out at the First Federal Savings and Loan Building.
education James Hager added that military groups had been denied use of the schools for recruitment purposes in the past, except for the service academies. 
In other action at the five hour meeting, resignations were accepted for Jerry K. Hartwig, principal of Sabin Elementary;
Kirk Hansen, principal of South East Junior High, and James McKenzie, director of educational media.
Hansen's and McKenzie's resignations were received over the weekend and so were not included on the prepared agenda.
Hansen will assume a principal's post in Mesa, Ariz., and McKenzie plans to work on his doctorate. Hartwig will accept a position in Naples, Fla.
Appointments were approved for a new assistant principal at Northwest Junior High and principal at Shimek Elementary. Larry Sharp, currently a sixth grade teacher at Kirkwood Elementary, will succeed Donald Lamm at Northwest. Lamm, whose post was a temporary appointment, will continue at Northwest as a coach.
Ronald Noah, now a principal in Excelsior Springs, Mo., will assume the Shimek position vacated by James Henderson. Henderson will work on his doctorate. 
At the suggestion of business manager John P. gillespie, the board also approved additional expenditures of $165,740.Gillespie explained that recently passed legislation- House File 1269- requires that school districts base next year's budget on the current year's actual expenditure, even if that figure is unexpectedly low.
Since a school budget cannot legally be overspent, Gillespie said, additions to this year's expenses should be made to equal the projected needs for next year.
James D. Blank, director of elementary education, told the board the planned summer enrichment program has been met with "tremendous response." In fact, Blank said, 407 enrollments had been received to date and the number would probably reach 500.
The unexpectedly high enrollment may necessitate switching the program from Shimek to the roomier Longfellow School, Blank said. Original maximum enrollment had been estimated at about 350 pupils. 
Blank said an additional 225 students are enrolled in the Title 1 enrichment program.
Secondary level summer courses will be offered at North west Junior High as originally scheduled, Acting Supt. William C. Bleeker announced. Bleeker said response to the courses has come "about evenly"from residents of the east and west sides of the river, and Northwest offers newer facilities and air conditioning. Some parents had earlier requested that the board consider holding the summer classes at a school "closer in" than Northwest.
In other action, change orders for construction at Iowa City High School were approved in the amounts of $35,416 for mechanical and $65o for electrical. 
The next school board meeting is tentatively scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 23 at the Board Office. 1040 William Street.

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p-c May 10, 1972 Antiwar Groups Denied Use Of School Facilities Here Representatives of several local groups opposed to the Vietnam war requested and were denied use of public school facilities for rallies, at the meeting Tuesday night of the Iowa City School Board. Ken Swain, a spokesman for the New American Movement, asked use of the facilities for his group and the Association of Campus Ministers and Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. School board member Philip A. Leff inquired whether the organizations were financially prepared to pay for damages should violence erupt at the rallies. Told they were not, Leff said he felt potential expense to the school district was too great a risk to grant permission for the gatherings. Another board member, Ted H. Magnusson, asked Swain whether a church might not offer facilities, particularly since a campus ministry group was involved. Swain said the only churches willing and equipped to make such an offer were located downtown, a high risk area for such activities. Acting director of secondary the marchers arrived again at Burlington and Riverside, where they were shortly afterward met by lines of police. As the wooden camper body blazed in the middle of the intersection two undercover officers arrested a youth in the crowd and pulled him off a waiting patrol car that was pelted with rocks as it sped away. It was shortly after that incident that lawmen made their final sweep across the intersection, ending the night's demonstration. During the night, two patrolmen were injured, Kenneth Carter of Monticello, who sustained a knee injury when he was struck by a rock, and Gary Swanson of Sioux Cty, whose foot was injured. Deputy Public Safety Commissioner Holetz said he regarded the demonstrations as "for the most part very peaceful." "I think the law enforcement people recognized that," he said, and concentrated their efforts on "preventive" action. Although vandalism was light during the disturbance, there were a number of isolated incidents of property damage. At about 10:12 p.m., a tire covered with waste paper was set afire in an alley behind Little Caesar's Pizza Palace, 127 South Clinton Street. The fire was extinguished before the firemen arrived. About 15 minutes later a fire bomb was thrown through a window at the Firestone store, 231 East Burlington Street, Firemen said Gordon Wieland, manager was working on the firm's financial records when the bomb was thrown. He put the fire out. Firemen said the damage was limited to the front of a wooden tire rack. Downtown, Penney's Department Store, 130 South Dubuque Street, had a front glass door window broken. Police said a bottle was thrown through it. Another glass door was broken out at the First Federal Savings and Loan Building. education James Hager added that military groups had been denied use of the schools for recruitment purposes in the past, except for the service academies. In other action at the five hour meeting, resignations were accepted for Jerry K. Hartwig, principal of Sabin Elementary; Kirk Hansen, principal of South East Junior High, and James McKenzie, director of educational media. Hansen's and McKenzie's resignations were received over the weekend and so were not included on the prepared agenda. Hansen will assume a principal's post in Mesa, Ariz., and McKenzie plans to work on his doctorate. Hartwig will accept a position in Naples, Fla. Appointments were approved for a new assistant principal at Northwest Junior High and principal at Shimek Elementary. Larry Sharp, currently a sixth grade teacher at Kirkwood Elementary, will succeed Donald Lamm at Northwest. Lamm, whose post was a temporary appointment, will continue at Northwest as a coach. Ronald Noah, now a principal in Excelsior Springs, Mo., will assume the Shimek position vacated by James Henderson. Henderson will work on his doctorate. At the suggestion of business manager John P. gillespie, the board also approved additional expenditures of $165,740.Gillespie explained that recently passed legislation- House File 1269- requires that school districts base next year's budget on the current year's actual expenditure, even if that figure is unexpectedly low. Since a school budget cannot legally be overspent, Gillespie said, additions to this year's expenses should be made to equal the projected needs for next year. James D. Blank, director of elementary education, told the board the planned summer enrichment program has been met with "tremendous response." In fact, Blank said, 407 enrollments had been received to date and the number would probably reach 500. The unexpectedly high enrollment may necessitate switching the program from Shimek to the roomier Longfellow School, Blank said. Original maximum enrollment had been estimated at about 350 pupils. Blank said an additional 225 students are enrolled in the Title 1 enrichment program. Secondary level summer courses will be offered at North west Junior High as originally scheduled, Acting Supt. William C. Bleeker announced. Bleeker said response to the courses has come "about evenly"from residents of the east and west sides of the river, and Northwest offers newer facilities and air conditioning. Some parents had earlier requested that the board consider holding the summer classes at a school "closer in" than Northwest. In other action, change orders for construction at Iowa City High School were approved in the amounts of $35,416 for mechanical and $65o for electrical. The next school board meeting is tentatively scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 23 at the Board Office. 1040 William Street.