DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970 | ""Iowa '70: Riot, Rhetoric, Responsibility?"" Page 34

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

""Iowa '70: Riot, Rhetoric, Responsibility?"" Page 34

30

Business Reaction
The nightwatchman begins his job, unnoticed by the employees and customers leaving for their homes. Not until there is trouble, such as that that hit Iowa City's downtown area the morning of May 5, is the nightwatchman appreciated.
The manager of Whetstone's called his watchman an "unsung hero." Whetstone's Drug Store was one of the businesses vandalized by a crowd who traveled through the downtown streets.
The manager arrived at his store early Tuesday morning after his nightwatchman informed him that three windows and a door had been broken by pieces of pavement and brick. A week and a half after the episode, several of the drug store's windows were still boarded up.
The manager called the disorder "spontaneous" and said that students and "pseudo-students" were just looking for trouble. Whetstone's was forced to close early several nights that week to protect employees and customers.
"I have a responsibility for the people inside my business establishment. If there is trouble, the best thing to do is get them out."
he went on to say that he fears fire more than vandalism but "in this building we've been afraid of fires for years."
Concerning President Boyd's decision of alternatives, he said "Boyd did what he had to do." But he feels that the problem came from within the University and that it will go on as long as the ma jority let the minority rule.
All the windows on the north side of Iowa State Bank and Trust were shattered by rocks now safely guarded in a bag next to the president's desk. Mr. Summerwill was first notified by his nightwatchman and later by his contractor, who was kept busy all night boarding up most of the broken windows.
The bank kept its windows boarded up for a week to prevent any future trouble. Summerwill could see no pattern or reason for the places hit. He still feels some apprehension and has letters on file from regular customers who are afraid to come downtown. "it definately hurt business."
Damages to the bank was estimated at a thousand dollars. Summerwill feels that Boyd's decision was a "sensible offering but he, himself, "is polarized against the student movement. And if such a protest happens again he said there will be a much stronger split between radicals and conservatives.
Mr. Vanderoef, owner of Iowa Book and Supply, said "It's a lot of foolishness, the kids weren't thinking clearly."
The windows in his new store addition were smashed and will cost one thousand dollars to replace.
Vanderhoef said that President Boyd did the best thing he could, but the University should have had a set policy for dealing with student regellions.
"The students couldn't crack Old Capital, so my store was the closest place to hit."
He feels that his business might suffer next fall if the enrollment dwindles.
"We've bren here 50 years and this is the first real trouble we've had since 1920 when freshmen were hazed," said Mr. Ewer, owner of a men's clothing store.
A baseball-sized rock struck Ewer's window at approximately 11:30 p.m., May 4. The owner guarded his store the rest of the night and said that people were constantly coming by the broken window.
Ewer's business has lagged since the window was boarded up. He said that they would not be able to sell all of their spring merchandise because the students were leaving.
Ewer feels that four out of five students involved in the protest were not students of the University of Iowa.
"The average student wouldn't have time to take part in the demonstration." 
Ewer thinks that there will be trouble unti lthe unrest stops completely.
"There is every shade of agitator, black to white, and all shades of grey," said one of the owners of Bremmers. He thinks there are a lot of selfish interest groups involved and thet not too many are legitimate protestors.
With a son at the University, he feels close to the University's problem and is concerned about the effect on the opening of summerschool.
The word KENT is painted across the boards covering the only window of Western Union. Their business has been affected by an increase in the number of telegrams, in fact, more than they can handle. The window will remain boarded up until the trouble is over.
The episode on the morning of May 5 attracted the concern of all Iowa City business men. Some have been threatened by boycotts for not supporting anti-war policies. 
But the effect of the trouble didn't stop downtown. Even the Iowa State liquor store boarded their windows and as one of the clerks said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

[photo]

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30 Business Reaction The nightwatchman begins his job, unnoticed by the employees and customers leaving for their homes. Not until there is trouble, such as that that hit Iowa City's downtown area the morning of May 5, is the nightwatchman appreciated. The manager of Whetstone's called his watchman an "unsung hero." Whetstone's Drug Store was one of the businesses vandalized by a crowd who traveled through the downtown streets. The manager arrived at his store early Tuesday morning after his nightwatchman informed him that three windows and a door had been broken by pieces of pavement and brick. A week and a half after the episode, several of the drug store's windows were still boarded up. The manager called the disorder "spontaneous" and said that students and "pseudo-students" were just looking for trouble. Whetstone's was forced to close early several nights that week to protect employees and customers. "I have a responsibility for the people inside my business establishment. If there is trouble, the best thing to do is get them out." he went on to say that he fears fire more than vandalism but "in this building we've been afraid of fires for years." Concerning President Boyd's decision of alternatives, he said "Boyd did what he had to do." But he feels that the problem came from within the University and that it will go on as long as the ma jority let the minority rule. All the windows on the north side of Iowa State Bank and Trust were shattered by rocks now safely guarded in a bag next to the president's desk. Mr. Summerwill was first notified by his nightwatchman and later by his contractor, who was kept busy all night boarding up most of the broken windows. The bank kept its windows boarded up for a week to prevent any future trouble. Summerwill could see no pattern or reason for the places hit. He still feels some apprehension and has letters on file from regular customers who are afraid to come downtown. "it definately hurt business." Damages to the bank was estimated at a thousand dollars. Summerwill feels that Boyd's decision was a "sensible offering but he, himself, "is polarized against the student movement. And if such a protest happens again he said there will be a much stronger split between radicals and conservatives. Mr. Vanderoef, owner of Iowa Book and Supply, said "It's a lot of foolishness, the kids weren't thinking clearly." The windows in his new store addition were smashed and will cost one thousand dollars to replace. Vanderhoef said that President Boyd did the best thing he could, but the University should have had a set policy for dealing with student regellions. "The students couldn't crack Old Capital, so my store was the closest place to hit." He feels that his business might suffer next fall if the enrollment dwindles. "We've bren here 50 years and this is the first real trouble we've had since 1920 when freshmen were hazed," said Mr. Ewer, owner of a men's clothing store. A baseball-sized rock struck Ewer's window at approximately 11:30 p.m., May 4. The owner guarded his store the rest of the night and said that people were constantly coming by the broken window. Ewer's business has lagged since the window was boarded up. He said that they would not be able to sell all of their spring merchandise because the students were leaving. Ewer feels that four out of five students involved in the protest were not students of the University of Iowa. "The average student wouldn't have time to take part in the demonstration." Ewer thinks that there will be trouble unti lthe unrest stops completely. "There is every shade of agitator, black to white, and all shades of grey," said one of the owners of Bremmers. He thinks there are a lot of selfish interest groups involved and thet not too many are legitimate protestors. With a son at the University, he feels close to the University's problem and is concerned about the effect on the opening of summerschool. The word KENT is painted across the boards covering the only window of Western Union. Their business has been affected by an increase in the number of telegrams, in fact, more than they can handle. The window will remain boarded up until the trouble is over. The episode on the morning of May 5 attracted the concern of all Iowa City business men. Some have been threatened by boycotts for not supporting anti-war policies. But the effect of the trouble didn't stop downtown. Even the Iowa State liquor store boarded their windows and as one of the clerks said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." [photo]