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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1965-1967

31858064848116_022-05

[handwritten]
p.5 (of 9)

The Daily Iowan 
OBSERVATIONS 
AND COMMENT 

PAGE 2 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1967 IOWA CITY, IOWA

Nearly everyone is to blame

Almost everyone who was involved in the horrible scene on campus Wednesday can be blamed in some way for it. The demonstrators blocking the Union doorway to keep Marines from recruiting on campus were infringing upon the rights of fellow students for what most people consider an unjustifiable reason. The anti-protesters were there for one reason only: to cause trouble and cause physical violence if they could. Many of the students at the scene just to watch what was going on obstructed attempts to take care of the problem without the police by making it difficult for leaders to communicate with the demonstrators of both sides. 
   But most of the blame must be placed upon the administration, ultimately Pres. Howard R. Bowen. Phil L. Connell, assistant to the president, was at the Union Wednesday at 11 a.m. At this time violence was occurring as protestors blocking the doorway were being physically thrown into the street by anti-protestors.
   Approximately at this same time Roger D. Augustine, associate dean of students, was watching the demonstration and was informed of the violence. Undoubtedly, there were other high-ranking administration officials who saw what was going on. The administration knew that there was violence occurring on the campus. 
    John Pelton, student body president, says he asked University authorities to provide some protection for the demonstrators about 11 a.m. John H. Hanna, chief of Campus Security reportedly told Pelton at that time that he wasn't able to move his men between the two groups because they lacked the power of arrest. Hanna told me about 1 p.m. approximately the same thing, adding that he did not have sufficient manpower to do so because the sealed-off  area of the Union would be made vulnerable to attack. time entered the mob. But it was at least 20 minutes before a small number of campus policemen moved in to separate the opposing groups in the mob. And this was done only after Pelton went to personally lead the policemen across the street.
    Finally, not too much before 2 p.m. a line of campus policemen was placed between the two groups in the mob. If this had been done at 9 Wednesday morning there probably would have been no violence. And there certainly would not have been any need to call in outsiders. 
  By afternoon, however, it was obvious that the situation had gotten out of hand. Pelton called for outside assistance because he feared that even more serious violence would erupt at any time. But the members of the University administration in the operations center that had been set up across the street from the Union still would not make a decision. Finally the city officials decided to act even before the University's request to do so.
   Basically, then the University administration made two major mistakes: it failed to take a relatively easy step that might have prevented or stopped short the violence. And it hesitated to call for outside assistance when it was obvious to virtually everyone nearby that it should do so. 
    One good thing will have to be said about the administration's behavior Wednesday, Bowen finally said something publicly about a manner that directly concerns this University. It is unfortunate, however, that the order has gone out that all public comments from most administration officials have to go through the Office to Public Information. 
   The Faculty Senate the Student Senate the Board of Regents and possibly other groups should investigate the adminstration's role in events

Anti-war pr 

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100 policemen, riot clo

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[handwritten] p.5 (of 9) The Daily Iowan OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENT PAGE 2 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1967 IOWA CITY, IOWA Nearly everyone is to blame Almost everyone who was involved in the horrible scene on campus Wednesday can be blamed in some way for it. The demonstrators blocking the Union doorway to keep Marines from recruiting on campus were infringing upon the rights of fellow students for what most people consider an unjustifiable reason. The anti-protesters were there for one reason only: to cause trouble and cause physical violence if they could. Many of the students at the scene just to watch what was going on obstructed attempts to take care of the problem without the police by making it difficult for leaders to communicate with the demonstrators of both sides. But most of the blame must be placed upon the administration, ultimately Pres. Howard R. Bowen. Phil L. Connell, assistant to the president, was at the Union Wednesday at 11 a.m. At this time violence was occurring as protestors blocking the doorway were being physically thrown into the street by anti-protestors. Approximately at this same time Roger D. Augustine, associate dean of students, was watching the demonstration and was informed of the violence. Undoubtedly, there were other high-ranking administration officials who saw what was going on. The administration knew that there was violence occurring on the campus. John Pelton, student body president, says he asked University authorities to provide some protection for the demonstrators about 11 a.m. John H. Hanna, chief of Campus Security reportedly told Pelton at that time that he wasn't able to move his men between the two groups because they lacked the power of arrest. Hanna told me about 1 p.m. approximately the same thing, adding that he did not have sufficient manpower to do so because the sealed-off area of the Union would be made vulnerable to attack. time entered the mob. But it was at least 20 minutes before a small number of campus policemen moved in to separate the opposing groups in the mob. And this was done only after Pelton went to personally lead the policemen across the street. Finally, not too much before 2 p.m. a line of campus policemen was placed between the two groups in the mob. If this had been done at 9 Wednesday morning there probably would have been no violence. And there certainly would not have been any need to call in outsiders. By afternoon, however, it was obvious that the situation had gotten out of hand. Pelton called for outside assistance because he feared that even more serious violence would erupt at any time. But the members of the University administration in the operations center that had been set up across the street from the Union still would not make a decision. Finally the city officials decided to act even before the University's request to do so. Basically, then the University administration made two major mistakes: it failed to take a relatively easy step that might have prevented or stopped short the violence. And it hesitated to call for outside assistance when it was obvious to virtually everyone nearby that it should do so. One good thing will have to be said about the administration's behavior Wednesday, Bowen finally said something publicly about a manner that directly concerns this University. It is unfortunate, however, that the order has gone out that all public comments from most administration officials have to go through the Office to Public Information. The Faculty Senate the Student Senate the Board of Regents and possibly other groups should investigate the adminstration's role in events Anti-war pr [photo] 100 policemen, riot clo [photo]