DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970 | 1970-05-10 Des Moines Register Article: ""U of I Mulls Closing For Rest Of Term""

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

1970-05-10 Des Moines Register Article: ""U of I Mulls Closing For Rest Of Term""

DMSR
5/10/70

U OF I MULLS
CLOSING FOR 
REST OF TERM
As ISU Students 
Cheer Nonviolence
By Jon Van and Jerry Knight
Iowa State University President W. Robert Parks urged 3,000 cheering anti-war demonstrators at Ames Saturday "to make this university a place where peaceful protest is an everyday occurrence.
In Iowa City, University of Iowa officials spent the day considering whether the campus should be closed for the rest of the semester. 
Parks' comments at Ames came during a rally after Saturday's Veishea parade.
"I'm doing my very best to make this an open campus," the ISU president said. "I'll continue to do whatever I have to do to resist all efforts to make it an oppressive and closed campus.
"The university has no greater purpose than to keep its doors open, and to keep its campus open to all kinds of views."
Share Quest
Parks told the protesters that the whole university shares their quest for peace.
"If the university isn't concerned with deeply human problems like this," he said, "what should it be concerned about?"
Organizers of the anti-war rally and "March of Concern" said Parks had asked to speak at the meeting which climaxed a week of nonviolent, but sometimes disruptive demonstrations.
Iowa City Rally
In Iowa City, rain drenched an outdoor rally in front of the University of Iowa's Old Capitol Saturday afternoon. Students moved the meeting to the Iowa Memorial Union.
About a thousand students discussed several proposed demands to make of the adminis-
STUDENTS -
Please turn to Page Four

BAN WEAPONS
AT VEISHA
STUDENTS - 
Continued from Page One
tration. The students rejected a demand that University President Willard Boyd and Provost Ray Hefner both resign.
Boyd had told a rally of students early Saturday morning that he ordered the Old Capitol cleared of demonstrators Friday because of misinformation from the university officials on the scene.
Boyd said the action, which led to the arrest of 229 persons, was regrettable. Boyd asked the students to remain calm, and to build rather than destroy the uniniversity.
A fire destroyed the wooden frame headquarters of the rhetoric department only a few hours after Boyd spoke to the students.
Fire chief Dean Bebee said he suspects arson, but has no proof.
Urge Closing
The Iowa STudent Senate, in a special meeting Saturday morning, urged closing the university for the rest of the semester to prevent further violence and insure safetty.
Boyd met with students, faculty and administrators most of the day to discuss the possibility of closing the school. No decision was made, Boyd said. A decision is expected today.
As the protest meetings continued Saturday night, most of the 20,000 students on campus remained aloof, studying for final examinations.
Several students at Iowa City were so engrossed in studies they scarcely knew the demonstrations were in progress.
A chemistry student, told Saturday that the rhetoric building was destroyed by fire, replied that "if all this keeps up, they might send the National Guard in here or something."
He wasn't aware that about 400 guardsmen were standing by in Iowa City along with some 200 highway patrolmen and several sheriff's deputies.
Veishea Parade
At Ames, Iowa State's annual Veishea parade went off i close to normal fashion. 
However, unrest on campus earlier caused four high school bands - Nevada, Dike, Atlantic and Hoover of Des Moines - to cancel.
Organizers of the parade had banned carrying of weapons. The Navy ROTC color guard, marching without guns, was applauded by spectators along the entire route. The Americare Steperettes of Des Moines gave up the mock wooden rifles usually carried by their color guard.
A throng of about 1,000 anti-war protesters marched carrying signs and chanting "Apathy Kills". Some spectators jeered.

Register Photo by Larry Neibergall
Arson Suspected
Aerial view looking north shows remains of the two-story frame Old Armory, Temporary, which was destroyed by fire on the University of Iowa campus at Iowa City early Saturday. The larger, Old Armory, right, was not damaged. The university's rhetoric program was housed in the burned building. Arson is suspected.

[photo]
REGISTER PHOTO BY LARRY NEIBERGALL
Arson Suspected
   Aerial view looking north shows remains of the two-story frame Old Armory, Temporary, which was destroyed by fire on the University of Iowa campus at Iowa City early Saturday. The larger, Old Armory, right, was not damaged. The university's rhetoric program was housed in the burned building. Arson is suspected.

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DMSR 5/10/70 U OF I MULLS CLOSING FOR REST OF TERM As ISU Students Cheer Nonviolence By Jon Van and Jerry Knight Iowa State University President W. Robert Parks urged 3,000 cheering anti-war demonstrators at Ames Saturday "to make this university a place where peaceful protest is an everyday occurrence. In Iowa City, University of Iowa officials spent the day considering whether the campus should be closed for the rest of the semester. Parks' comments at Ames came during a rally after Saturday's Veishea parade. "I'm doing my very best to make this an open campus," the ISU president said. "I'll continue to do whatever I have to do to resist all efforts to make it an oppressive and closed campus. "The university has no greater purpose than to keep its doors open, and to keep its campus open to all kinds of views." Share Quest Parks told the protesters that the whole university shares their quest for peace. "If the university isn't concerned with deeply human problems like this," he said, "what should it be concerned about?" Organizers of the anti-war rally and "March of Concern" said Parks had asked to speak at the meeting which climaxed a week of nonviolent, but sometimes disruptive demonstrations. Iowa City Rally In Iowa City, rain drenched an outdoor rally in front of the University of Iowa's Old Capitol Saturday afternoon. Students moved the meeting to the Iowa Memorial Union. About a thousand students discussed several proposed demands to make of the adminis- STUDENTS - Please turn to Page Four BAN WEAPONS AT VEISHA STUDENTS - Continued from Page One tration. The students rejected a demand that University President Willard Boyd and Provost Ray Hefner both resign. Boyd had told a rally of students early Saturday morning that he ordered the Old Capitol cleared of demonstrators Friday because of misinformation from the university officials on the scene. Boyd said the action, which led to the arrest of 229 persons, was regrettable. Boyd asked the students to remain calm, and to build rather than destroy the uniniversity. A fire destroyed the wooden frame headquarters of the rhetoric department only a few hours after Boyd spoke to the students. Fire chief Dean Bebee said he suspects arson, but has no proof. Urge Closing The Iowa STudent Senate, in a special meeting Saturday morning, urged closing the university for the rest of the semester to prevent further violence and insure safetty. Boyd met with students, faculty and administrators most of the day to discuss the possibility of closing the school. No decision was made, Boyd said. A decision is expected today. As the protest meetings continued Saturday night, most of the 20,000 students on campus remained aloof, studying for final examinations. Several students at Iowa City were so engrossed in studies they scarcely knew the demonstrations were in progress. A chemistry student, told Saturday that the rhetoric building was destroyed by fire, replied that "if all this keeps up, they might send the National Guard in here or something." He wasn't aware that about 400 guardsmen were standing by in Iowa City along with some 200 highway patrolmen and several sheriff's deputies. Veishea Parade At Ames, Iowa State's annual Veishea parade went off i close to normal fashion. However, unrest on campus earlier caused four high school bands - Nevada, Dike, Atlantic and Hoover of Des Moines - to cancel. Organizers of the parade had banned carrying of weapons. The Navy ROTC color guard, marching without guns, was applauded by spectators along the entire route. The Americare Steperettes of Des Moines gave up the mock wooden rifles usually carried by their color guard. A throng of about 1,000 anti-war protesters marched carrying signs and chanting "Apathy Kills". Some spectators jeered. Register Photo by Larry Neibergall Arson Suspected Aerial view looking north shows remains of the two-story frame Old Armory, Temporary, which was destroyed by fire on the University of Iowa campus at Iowa City early Saturday. The larger, Old Armory, right, was not damaged. The university's rhetoric program was housed in the burned building. Arson is suspected. [photo] REGISTER PHOTO BY LARRY NEIBERGALL Arson Suspected Aerial view looking north shows remains of the two-story frame Old Armory, Temporary, which was destroyed by fire on the University of Iowa campus at Iowa City early Saturday. The larger, Old Armory, right, was not damaged. The university's rhetoric program was housed in the burned building. Arson is suspected.