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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

1970-05-13 Daily Iowan Article: ""Faculty Senate Votes Anti-ROTC"" Page 2

2 (of 4)
The Daily Iowan
Serving the University of Iowa   and the People of Iowa City
1868   10 cents a copy   Associated Press Leased Wire and Wirephoto   Iowa City, Iowa, 52240—Wednesday, May 13, 1970

Decision Rests with Regents—
Faculty Senate Votes Anti-ROTC
[Left column cut off on left; duplicates material from previous page]
Heffner said following the vote. He said the vote serves only as an indication of the senate's attitudes and the final decision rests in the hands of the Board of Regents. 
After the meeting, Heffner added he had "no idea" what the Board of Regents would do when asked to decide the future of ROTC.
After the vote, a committee of three Liberal Arts professors was named by Persons, to "negotiate with the President (University Pres. Willard Boyd) for prompt implementation" of the senate's action. Appointed were John Gerber, prof. of English, Donald John prof. of political science, and Lloyd Knowler, prof. of statistics.
Persons said Boyd had previously requested such a move by the senate if they voted to terminate ROTC here.
The resolution approved calls for the University to "sign no further contracts with ROTC and that ROTC not be continued as a University sponsored activity." If implemented, the resolution would prohibit ROTC as both an academic and extra-curricular activity. 
Bert Schoner, associate professor of business, and Burns Weston, professor of law, originally introduced the resolution as an addendum to the majority report of the senate's committee on University Relations with the Federal Government.
The majority report was introduced before the senate in the form of a motion, but the addendum report was later introduced and Persons said it would be acted upon before the majority report.
Under the terms of the majority report, ROTC courses would receive no credit, ROTC units would not carry the designation as an academic department or inter-disciplinary programs, and faculty status will not be granted to officers on active duty with ROTC units.
Folloiwing discussion on the two proposals, the senate moved to vote by show of hands. However, after two tie votes of 31-31, the senate decided to vote instead by roll call.
The roll call vote—31-30—was to replace the majority report by the addendum. Following the roll call, the final vote was taken by show of hands.
Col. Cyrus Shockey, head of the Department of Military Science (Army ROTC), had "no comment" following the vote.
When asked to speak before the senate, Shockey declared the senate had failed to coordinate their study with the Air Force and Army ROTC units. "I am not opposed to a better ROTC department," Shockey stated "in fact, for four years I have worked for this."
Criticizing the senate comittee's faiure to visit ROTC classes, he pointed out: "It seems to me that there was no other alternative than to visit our classes."
He asked the senators, "If the study in your hands doesn't portray the ROTC program, I don't see how you can make an intelligent decision."
After introducing the addendum, Schoner stated he felt the primary role of ROTC was the recruitment of army officers.
[missing remainder of column?]

departments—i.e. majors."
Schoner suggested a criterion to be used when considering the merits of ROTC: "Is this (ROTC) life supportive or is this destructive?"
James McCue, associate professor of religion, however, questioned the effectiveness of banning ROTC. While citing the "vigorous" student oppostion, McCue also suggested that removing ROTC "wouldn't affect the war much."
For Robert Corrigan, associate professor of English, ROTC is an "academic, moral and social issue" of such importance that he urged elimination of ROTC.
"What we have seen is 2,700 to 3,000 sudents working together with one goal in mind—to rid this campus of ROTC," Corrigan said.
Citing the need for liberal officers in the armed forces, law professor Sam Fahr went on record as supporting the continuation of ROTC.
Fahr's thought's were echoed by Bradley Sagen, associate professor of education, who added that a shift of the ROTC program from the nation's universities to technical institutions could result in a poorer quality of officers.
Frank Seiberling, director of the School of Art, also supported the continuation of ROTC, noting: "There is a great deal to be said for a college-trained officer."
George Forell, director of the School of Religion, told the senate he was supporting the resolution because he is "tired of the war in Vietnam." Forell, however, said he wasn't sure the removal of ROTC was going to be an effective move.
Two students spoke out at Tuesday's meeting representing both shades of opinion president. Shelley Blum, L2, Iowa City, charged that the end of ROTC would also mean the end of what he called "adventurism" by the military. Stating that the U.S. doesn't need a large army, Blum continued: "The only effect is to allow us to get into wars like Indo-china."
Richard Tyner, A4, Shenandoah, said: "I am worried that we won't make an academic decision, but a political decision." Tyner, who is a senior army
[missing rest of column]

[Left column cut off on left; duplicates material from previous page]
Support Strike;
to Censure Boyd
Teaching assistants endorses the student strike and its goals." (passed, 72 to 21)
• "The official body of the University teaching assistants urges that the presence of ROTC on campus and the use of University facilities for ROTC functions be put to a vote of one entire student body." (passed, 67 to 9)
•"The official body of the University teaching assistants censures President Boyd for failing to recognize and attempting to sabotage the right to peaceful protest by offering an option sheet which attempts to bypass normal student-teacher relationships and which precludes the right to strike." (passed, 44 to 34)
• "The official body of the University teaching assistants urges all teacing assistants to consider grades as of May 3, the basis for determining final grades, whether or not the student has signed the options, unless the student desires otherwise." (passed, 77 to 9)
• "The official body of the University teaching assistants demands that no punitive actions be taken against those taking part in the strike." (passed, 71 to 7)
[remainder of column missing]

Saving...

2 (of 4) The Daily Iowan Serving the University of Iowa and the People of Iowa City 1868 10 cents a copy Associated Press Leased Wire and Wirephoto Iowa City, Iowa, 52240—Wednesday, May 13, 1970 Decision Rests with Regents— Faculty Senate Votes Anti-ROTC [Left column cut off on left; duplicates material from previous page] Heffner said following the vote. He said the vote serves only as an indication of the senate's attitudes and the final decision rests in the hands of the Board of Regents. After the meeting, Heffner added he had "no idea" what the Board of Regents would do when asked to decide the future of ROTC. After the vote, a committee of three Liberal Arts professors was named by Persons, to "negotiate with the President (University Pres. Willard Boyd) for prompt implementation" of the senate's action. Appointed were John Gerber, prof. of English, Donald John prof. of political science, and Lloyd Knowler, prof. of statistics. Persons said Boyd had previously requested such a move by the senate if they voted to terminate ROTC here. The resolution approved calls for the University to "sign no further contracts with ROTC and that ROTC not be continued as a University sponsored activity." If implemented, the resolution would prohibit ROTC as both an academic and extra-curricular activity. Bert Schoner, associate professor of business, and Burns Weston, professor of law, originally introduced the resolution as an addendum to the majority report of the senate's committee on University Relations with the Federal Government. The majority report was introduced before the senate in the form of a motion, but the addendum report was later introduced and Persons said it would be acted upon before the majority report. Under the terms of the majority report, ROTC courses would receive no credit, ROTC units would not carry the designation as an academic department or inter-disciplinary programs, and faculty status will not be granted to officers on active duty with ROTC units. Folloiwing discussion on the two proposals, the senate moved to vote by show of hands. However, after two tie votes of 31-31, the senate decided to vote instead by roll call. The roll call vote—31-30—was to replace the majority report by the addendum. Following the roll call, the final vote was taken by show of hands. Col. Cyrus Shockey, head of the Department of Military Science (Army ROTC), had "no comment" following the vote. When asked to speak before the senate, Shockey declared the senate had failed to coordinate their study with the Air Force and Army ROTC units. "I am not opposed to a better ROTC department," Shockey stated "in fact, for four years I have worked for this." Criticizing the senate comittee's faiure to visit ROTC classes, he pointed out: "It seems to me that there was no other alternative than to visit our classes." He asked the senators, "If the study in your hands doesn't portray the ROTC program, I don't see how you can make an intelligent decision." After introducing the addendum, Schoner stated he felt the primary role of ROTC was the recruitment of army officers. [missing remainder of column?] departments—i.e. majors." Schoner suggested a criterion to be used when considering the merits of ROTC: "Is this (ROTC) life supportive or is this destructive?" James McCue, associate professor of religion, however, questioned the effectiveness of banning ROTC. While citing the "vigorous" student oppostion, McCue also suggested that removing ROTC "wouldn't affect the war much." For Robert Corrigan, associate professor of English, ROTC is an "academic, moral and social issue" of such importance that he urged elimination of ROTC. "What we have seen is 2,700 to 3,000 sudents working together with one goal in mind—to rid this campus of ROTC," Corrigan said. Citing the need for liberal officers in the armed forces, law professor Sam Fahr went on record as supporting the continuation of ROTC. Fahr's thought's were echoed by Bradley Sagen, associate professor of education, who added that a shift of the ROTC program from the nation's universities to technical institutions could result in a poorer quality of officers. Frank Seiberling, director of the School of Art, also supported the continuation of ROTC, noting: "There is a great deal to be said for a college-trained officer." George Forell, director of the School of Religion, told the senate he was supporting the resolution because he is "tired of the war in Vietnam." Forell, however, said he wasn't sure the removal of ROTC was going to be an effective move. Two students spoke out at Tuesday's meeting representing both shades of opinion president. Shelley Blum, L2, Iowa City, charged that the end of ROTC would also mean the end of what he called "adventurism" by the military. Stating that the U.S. doesn't need a large army, Blum continued: "The only effect is to allow us to get into wars like Indo-china." Richard Tyner, A4, Shenandoah, said: "I am worried that we won't make an academic decision, but a political decision." Tyner, who is a senior army [missing rest of column] [Left column cut off on left; duplicates material from previous page] Support Strike; to Censure Boyd Teaching assistants endorses the student strike and its goals." (passed, 72 to 21) • "The official body of the University teaching assistants urges that the presence of ROTC on campus and the use of University facilities for ROTC functions be put to a vote of one entire student body." (passed, 67 to 9) •"The official body of the University teaching assistants censures President Boyd for failing to recognize and attempting to sabotage the right to peaceful protest by offering an option sheet which attempts to bypass normal student-teacher relationships and which precludes the right to strike." (passed, 44 to 34) • "The official body of the University teaching assistants urges all teacing assistants to consider grades as of May 3, the basis for determining final grades, whether or not the student has signed the options, unless the student desires otherwise." (passed, 77 to 9) • "The official body of the University teaching assistants demands that no punitive actions be taken against those taking part in the strike." (passed, 71 to 7) [remainder of column missing]