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University of Iowa anti-war protests, January-April 1971

1971-02-06 Daily Iowan Article: ""DIA Hearing Ends With Second Chaotic Day"" Page 2

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DI 2/6/71 p. 2 (of 2) "DIA Hearing ends with Second Chaotic Day" that the demonstrators would have allowed her to enter the Placement Office, but that the DIA recruiter was not there anyway. Hoover said she had recently received application forms from the DIA in the mail. "If I still sought employment by the DIA, they would be willing to interview me," she said. Wheeler then asked Garfield if the defense could force university Pres. Willard Boyd to appear at the hearing. After much debate between the defense and the prosecution, Garfield said, "I am not going to order the president to appear at this hearing." A lengthy debate evolved on whether it was too early for the lunch recess. The debate took up the time in question and recess was called. In afternoon testimony, Patrick Tranmer, A3, contended that the pictures offered by the prosecution as evidence of obstruction were taken before 1 p.m. He said he was not in the area pictured after that time. Defense took the position that obstruction could not occur before 1 p.m. because the Placement Office was closed for the noon hour until that time. Fred Karnes, reporter for a local newspaper, testified that he saw no threats or violence. "I could have made more noise myself," he said. In reply to a question from Garfield, Karnes said the demonstrators were chanting something about no more ROTC. Defendant Carl called to Karnes, "Let us refresh your memory." The defendants and many of the court room spectators broke into a loud chant. "1-2-3-4- Vietnam's a bosses' war! 5-6-7-8 there's nothing to negotiate!" The entire room dissolved into an uproar of laughter and talking. In the midst of testimony by Robert Engle, assistant to Pres. Willard Boyd, court proceedings came to a complete halt as Carl pointed out to Garfield that several spectators were being refused admittance to the court room. Defendants acted as ushers as the spectators filed into the court room. People were seated in the vacant jury box, on the benches behind the defense table and in every available seat in the audience area. Even Garfield entered the turmoil by calling attention to vacant seats around the room. Carl called out, "Come on in! Come on in! Sit on people's laps." A parade of orators then began to take the witness stand on behalf of the defense. Defendant Roland Schembari stated that more than three people were fairly actively involved in talking to Stuit. His testimony then branched off into the political background of the demonstration. Simon Piller, A1, read a lengthy report on the operations of the DIA. The filibuster by Piller continued and arrived at the point in the report describing DIA efforts to collect information on the sex life of foreign students at the Unviersity of Minnesota. "We're not going into the sex life of the students at the University of Minnesota," Garfield interceded. Wheeler took the stand. He indicated that he viewed the hearing as a forum. "The best part of this thing is the chance it gives us to talk to people, to build a huge union of workers and students to fight against the bosses," he said, blowing a gum bubble. Everyone with a statement to make was allowed to speak; then the round of closing defense statements began. Mause again called for dismissal of the charges on the grounds of insufficient and improperly introduced information. Shelley Blum, L3, another counsel for the defense, explained that photographs can only be introduced into evidence if they are accompanied by testimony fixing the time and location of the scene. The university prosecutors were told by Mike Pill, L3, another legal advisor for the defense, that if the photographer were put on the witness stand, the defense could prove that the pictures had been taken before 1 p.m. Blum said the prosecutors refused to cooperate because the photographer would then lose his utility as an undercover agent for the university. Sokol then presented the closing statement for the prosecution. Garfield indicated that he must make his recommendation to Boyd within 15 days. He instructed the university officials to notify each of the defendants individually of the resulting action.
 
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