DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970 | 1970-05-11 Daily Iowan Article: ""Option to Leave Given Students"" Page 5

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

1970-05-11 Daily Iowan Article: ""Option to Leave Given Students"" Page 5

[partial photo]
A glimpse between musical instruments shows some of about 1,500 persons, most of them students, who attended a Rock Festival at Macbride Field Campus on Sunday. Providing entertainment were the Strawberry Alarm Clock, among other bands. - Photo by Hoyt Carrier

till Planned at UI
strike at classes passed the Student Senate 22:10 Sunday night.
An estimated total of 2,400 students and faculty attended a mass meeting at the Union Main Lounge Sunday to plan a student strike. The Strike Steering Committee has planned informational and unobstructional picketing outside major classroom buildings today. 
Meetings for University teaching assistants (T.As) are scheduled for 1 p.m. today on the Union Patio and at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Shambaugh Auditorium. All T.As in Western Civilization, American Survey, Black history and the Division of Film and Broadcasting have joined the strike. 
An "after-rally rally" at the Pentacrest Sunday night drew two members of the "silent majority" and State Sen. Minnette Doderer (Dem - Johnson County) into a discussion with 250 students planning to strike at the University. Besides Mrs. Doderer, the speakers included a fifty-four year old union member who said that as a parent he was " willing to get involved."
While strike plans continued on campus about 500 students trekked to Lake Macbride Sunday afternoon to enjoy the " Love Sunday" activities there planned by Union Board and Associated Residence Halls. 
University Vice Provost Philip Hubbard said Sunday evening that students living in dormitories who choose to take one of the options in University Pres. Willard Boyd's Sunday statement would have to move out of the dorm within 24 hours after signing the sheet. However, students can rent rooms in the dormitories for $2 a day. 

Patrolmen
efinite Stay
Dickinson said that the patrolmen are working on both day and night shifts and would be changed again Sunday night. Seven or eight two man patrol cars were also to patrol the University complex Sunday night and early Monday morning, Dickinson said.
According to Dickinson, approximately 180 highway patrolmen are headquartered at the Ramada Inn, Highway 218 North Dickinson said that about 200 to 300 national guardsmen were still stationed at the Johnson County 4-H Fairgrounds but that no plans for moving them into Iowa City were being considered. 
Campus Security director William Binney said Sunday night that the guardsmen were all military police, not infantry troops, and that they have not been on campus during the week. 
[Remainder of article missing]

[Beginning of article missing]
Further information on how to exercise this choice, and a simple form for doing so, will be available to University of Iowa students by 10 a.m. Sunday (May 10) in all University residence halls, the Mayflower Hall and Iowa Memorial Union. 
I have been urged by a number of concerned students to close the University at once as a means of expressing the opposition of the University community to the war in Vietnam. I sympathize greatly with those who condemn the war, but I cannot make the University the political agent of any group, no matter how much I might personally condemn recent actions in Southeast Asia. 
For those who would say that the military intervention in Cambodia is an important symbol at this time. I must respond that learning in a free society is an equally important symbol. If the University were to give in to force at this time, a great principle would be lost. This principle embodies the notion that the continued access to learning and the services of the University for all who want them should be maintained. No one group within the community has the right to impose its will upon the rest of the community and thus preclude others from obtaining the University services to which they are entitled. 
The University must represent the interests of all, no matter what their stand on the war. We cannot compromise on that issue. 
The University will, therefore, remain open and its usual academic functions will be maintained. Everything possible will be done to secure the safety of all members of the University community and University facilities.- William L. Boyd

Chamber of Commerce Says It Supports Right to Dissent
For the third time in two days, city businessmen and University student leaders met Friday afternoon to discuss ways of opening channels of communications between the two groups. The meetings followed a week of student demonstrations. 
The meetings ended with the release of a statement by the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce. It reads: " The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors wishes to express an understanding of the basic problems behind recent student unrest.
" Whereas we do not unanimously agree with the students on all points of concern, we do not support their right to dissent by demonstrations in a non-violent manner.
" We approve of the proposed student canvass to discuss the war with businessmen or townspeople. We would also urge moderation on the part of law enforcement people in the performance of their duties in dealing with non-violent peaceful demonstrators."
Ted Politis, A2, Ames, said that the purpose of the meeting was to get a statement from the businessmen before Friday night, but he emphasized that "no pressure" was put on the Chamber Board of Directors by the students to meet. 
" The businessmen wanted to make their statement before tonight. They felt it was their obligation to let the students know where they stand," said Politis.
Ben Summerwill, president of the Chamber Board, said " I was encouraged by the meetings. I feel I understand the problems better, and I feel I learned a few things I did not previously know."
Another meeting is scheduled for 10 this morning, according to Roger Weingarten, G, Cleveland. Anyone interested in attending today's meeting is asked to contact Weingarten. 

Board Continues DI Editor 
[remainder of article missing]

"option to leave. . . " DI (EXTRA) May 11, 1970 5(of 5)

[beginning of article missing]
completed through May 3. A major assignment due by May 3 but not completed could result in an incomplete for a course. Incompletes would be made up in the usual manner and time period. 
Take a P (pass) or a W (withdrawal) for all courses, based on work completed through May 3. This would mean a P for all courses in which the work is A, B, C or D quality and W for courses in which the work is not passing quality. As in the first option an incomplete may be assigned by the instructor if a major assignment due by May 3 has not been submitted. The I would be removed in the normal manner but may become only a P or a W. 
Take incompletes in all courses. Students electing this option would need to make up all work and examinations normally required through the end of the semester (not through May only). The usual method and time limits for removing the incompletes would apply, except that prior permission of the instructor is not needed. 
The Strike Steering Committee issued a statement after the options were made public in which it called Boyd's statement " a clear attempt to confuse students and break the strike."
The committee's statement urged students not to sign up for any of the options until " all the facts are in" Students have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to decide whether to finish the semester or choose one of the three options. 
After his statement was released Sunday. Boyd explained that the options applied in all University colleges and that a student may not combine options, for example, he may not take P grades in some courses and grades as earned in others
Other aspects of Boyd' statement remained unclear late Sunday, but Boyd said he would make further explanations today, after conferring with University administrators and deans of the colleges. 
Among questions expected to be cleared up today are:
Whether students who choose not to finish the semester will be permitted to remain on campus or to stay in University dormitories. 
What assurance will be given that an instructor will not assign grades on the basis of whether or not a student decides to complete the semester instead of on the basis of his work. 
Whether a student may make arrangements with his instructors instead of notifying the University of his choice of one of the options. 
Whether a student may take P
[remainder of article missing]

Saving...

[partial photo] A glimpse between musical instruments shows some of about 1,500 persons, most of them students, who attended a Rock Festival at Macbride Field Campus on Sunday. Providing entertainment were the Strawberry Alarm Clock, among other bands. - Photo by Hoyt Carrier till Planned at UI strike at classes passed the Student Senate 22:10 Sunday night. An estimated total of 2,400 students and faculty attended a mass meeting at the Union Main Lounge Sunday to plan a student strike. The Strike Steering Committee has planned informational and unobstructional picketing outside major classroom buildings today. Meetings for University teaching assistants (T.As) are scheduled for 1 p.m. today on the Union Patio and at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Shambaugh Auditorium. All T.As in Western Civilization, American Survey, Black history and the Division of Film and Broadcasting have joined the strike. An "after-rally rally" at the Pentacrest Sunday night drew two members of the "silent majority" and State Sen. Minnette Doderer (Dem - Johnson County) into a discussion with 250 students planning to strike at the University. Besides Mrs. Doderer, the speakers included a fifty-four year old union member who said that as a parent he was " willing to get involved." While strike plans continued on campus about 500 students trekked to Lake Macbride Sunday afternoon to enjoy the " Love Sunday" activities there planned by Union Board and Associated Residence Halls. University Vice Provost Philip Hubbard said Sunday evening that students living in dormitories who choose to take one of the options in University Pres. Willard Boyd's Sunday statement would have to move out of the dorm within 24 hours after signing the sheet. However, students can rent rooms in the dormitories for $2 a day. Patrolmen efinite Stay Dickinson said that the patrolmen are working on both day and night shifts and would be changed again Sunday night. Seven or eight two man patrol cars were also to patrol the University complex Sunday night and early Monday morning, Dickinson said. According to Dickinson, approximately 180 highway patrolmen are headquartered at the Ramada Inn, Highway 218 North Dickinson said that about 200 to 300 national guardsmen were still stationed at the Johnson County 4-H Fairgrounds but that no plans for moving them into Iowa City were being considered. Campus Security director William Binney said Sunday night that the guardsmen were all military police, not infantry troops, and that they have not been on campus during the week. [Remainder of article missing] [Beginning of article missing] Further information on how to exercise this choice, and a simple form for doing so, will be available to University of Iowa students by 10 a.m. Sunday (May 10) in all University residence halls, the Mayflower Hall and Iowa Memorial Union. I have been urged by a number of concerned students to close the University at once as a means of expressing the opposition of the University community to the war in Vietnam. I sympathize greatly with those who condemn the war, but I cannot make the University the political agent of any group, no matter how much I might personally condemn recent actions in Southeast Asia. For those who would say that the military intervention in Cambodia is an important symbol at this time. I must respond that learning in a free society is an equally important symbol. If the University were to give in to force at this time, a great principle would be lost. This principle embodies the notion that the continued access to learning and the services of the University for all who want them should be maintained. No one group within the community has the right to impose its will upon the rest of the community and thus preclude others from obtaining the University services to which they are entitled. The University must represent the interests of all, no matter what their stand on the war. We cannot compromise on that issue. The University will, therefore, remain open and its usual academic functions will be maintained. Everything possible will be done to secure the safety of all members of the University community and University facilities.- William L. Boyd Chamber of Commerce Says It Supports Right to Dissent For the third time in two days, city businessmen and University student leaders met Friday afternoon to discuss ways of opening channels of communications between the two groups. The meetings followed a week of student demonstrations. The meetings ended with the release of a statement by the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce. It reads: " The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors wishes to express an understanding of the basic problems behind recent student unrest. " Whereas we do not unanimously agree with the students on all points of concern, we do not support their right to dissent by demonstrations in a non-violent manner. " We approve of the proposed student canvass to discuss the war with businessmen or townspeople. We would also urge moderation on the part of law enforcement people in the performance of their duties in dealing with non-violent peaceful demonstrators." Ted Politis, A2, Ames, said that the purpose of the meeting was to get a statement from the businessmen before Friday night, but he emphasized that "no pressure" was put on the Chamber Board of Directors by the students to meet. " The businessmen wanted to make their statement before tonight. They felt it was their obligation to let the students know where they stand," said Politis. Ben Summerwill, president of the Chamber Board, said " I was encouraged by the meetings. I feel I understand the problems better, and I feel I learned a few things I did not previously know." Another meeting is scheduled for 10 this morning, according to Roger Weingarten, G, Cleveland. Anyone interested in attending today's meeting is asked to contact Weingarten. Board Continues DI Editor [remainder of article missing] "option to leave. . . " DI (EXTRA) May 11, 1970 5(of 5) [beginning of article missing] completed through May 3. A major assignment due by May 3 but not completed could result in an incomplete for a course. Incompletes would be made up in the usual manner and time period. Take a P (pass) or a W (withdrawal) for all courses, based on work completed through May 3. This would mean a P for all courses in which the work is A, B, C or D quality and W for courses in which the work is not passing quality. As in the first option an incomplete may be assigned by the instructor if a major assignment due by May 3 has not been submitted. The I would be removed in the normal manner but may become only a P or a W. Take incompletes in all courses. Students electing this option would need to make up all work and examinations normally required through the end of the semester (not through May only). The usual method and time limits for removing the incompletes would apply, except that prior permission of the instructor is not needed. The Strike Steering Committee issued a statement after the options were made public in which it called Boyd's statement " a clear attempt to confuse students and break the strike." The committee's statement urged students not to sign up for any of the options until " all the facts are in" Students have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to decide whether to finish the semester or choose one of the three options. After his statement was released Sunday. Boyd explained that the options applied in all University colleges and that a student may not combine options, for example, he may not take P grades in some courses and grades as earned in others Other aspects of Boyd' statement remained unclear late Sunday, but Boyd said he would make further explanations today, after conferring with University administrators and deans of the colleges. Among questions expected to be cleared up today are: Whether students who choose not to finish the semester will be permitted to remain on campus or to stay in University dormitories. What assurance will be given that an instructor will not assign grades on the basis of whether or not a student decides to complete the semester instead of on the basis of his work. Whether a student may make arrangements with his instructors instead of notifying the University of his choice of one of the options. Whether a student may take P [remainder of article missing]