DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970 | 1970-06 Iowa Alumni Review ""At the U of I and over the nation May was a time of Student Protest"" Page 4

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

1970-06 Iowa Alumni Review ""At the U of I and over the nation May was a time of Student Protest"" Page 4

[photo]
panied by a rock music group. 
Roughly the same proportion of students who struck Wednesday continued to strike through Thursday. Rallies continued throughout the day. And President Boyd, saying he saw a strong possibility for bloodshed, cancelled the 89th annual Governor's Day ROTC observance scheduled from May 11. " It must be clear to all that this cancellation involves a surrender of principle in the interest of public safety. It must be clear to all that the price we pay for this surrender is beyond calculation," he said. 
Around 10 p.m. Thursday night some 50 persons broke into Old Capitol in an attempt to occupy the building. A smoke bomb was set off and reports of burning on the Pentacrest alarmed local citizens. However, those occupying Old Capitol voluntarily when asked by officials to do so. 
About 2 a.m. the next morning President Boyd gave the order from Des Moines to clear the Pentacrest and police arrested 228 demonstrators sitting on the steps of  Old Capitol. 
The next day Boyd said he regretted the mass arrests of peaceful demonstrators ad blamed his decision to move Highway Patrolmen onto the campus on faulty information. 
The 34th Iowa Military Police Battalion then moved into the Iowa City area. A National Guard helicopter circled the Pentacrest, disrupting speakers at a mass rally and angering the crowd.
Friday night a building burned or was burned - whether the act was arson was not determined. 
The Old Armory Temporary, which because of its vivid color students had recently christened " Big Pink," was completely gutted and later razed. For several nights thereafter some faculty members pulled "fire watch" duty in key University buildings. 
Saturday was peaceful as rain feel and students walked silently over the campus. Armed police stationed in Old Capitol watched the Pentacrest and a National Guard helicopter continued to circle. 
Sunday morning President Boyd announced that the University would remain open until the end of the semester, but that students would not be required to attend classes or take final exams if they wished to leave Iowa City.
Boyd said the compromise was reached to permit students " fearing for their safety" to return home without penalty before the semester ended May 26.
The three options given to students who elected against attending classes and taking finals were: - complete all course work at a later date; - accept a pass or withdraw grade now; - accept a letter grade based on work completed through May 3.

Students were given two days in which to sign up for the options. Strike leaders labeled Boyd's action a "strike-breaking device" and asked students to sign non of the alternatives. However, by Tuesday, May 12, some 11,796 students - nearly two-thirds of the student body - had signed one of the three options and were preparing to leave campus. 
Many of the students taking the options said they did so to protect high grades they had achieved through May 3. Others said they wanted to avoid failing classes in which they were doing poorly. Many students, which admitting to parental fear of danger, said they themselves did not feel threatened. 
But the worst was over. Wednesday night only 40 students gathered to discuss further strike action. National Guardsmen and Highway Patrol members withdrew from the area. Classes continued quietly for those who had chosen to remain and take finals. 
As the strike flurry settled, the questions of an Iowa City graduate student discussing the events seemed to sum up the sentiments of many disenchanted demonstrators: " What concrete ways can we use to held end our isolation of students speaking only to students? We wish to deal with complex problems on racism imperialism etc. But complex problems unfortunately demand complex answers. Slogans may help focus attention on issues, but what are we examining beyond the rhetoric?"

DISCLAIMER
A Special Report from The University of Iowa, prepared by the Office of Public Information, was mailed to all alumni early in June. The entire content was devoted to a review of the campus disorders in May. 
The Office of Public Information has credited the Alumni Association with cooperating in the publication of the Special report. 
The Association wishes to advise its membership that, while it had knowledge that some kind of report was contemplated, at no time was any officer or member of the Association staff invited to participate in the preparation of copy or format. 
Therefore the Alumni Association disclaims any credit for publication of A Special Report from The University of Iowa. 
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[photo] panied by a rock music group. Roughly the same proportion of students who struck Wednesday continued to strike through Thursday. Rallies continued throughout the day. And President Boyd, saying he saw a strong possibility for bloodshed, cancelled the 89th annual Governor's Day ROTC observance scheduled from May 11. " It must be clear to all that this cancellation involves a surrender of principle in the interest of public safety. It must be clear to all that the price we pay for this surrender is beyond calculation," he said. Around 10 p.m. Thursday night some 50 persons broke into Old Capitol in an attempt to occupy the building. A smoke bomb was set off and reports of burning on the Pentacrest alarmed local citizens. However, those occupying Old Capitol voluntarily when asked by officials to do so. About 2 a.m. the next morning President Boyd gave the order from Des Moines to clear the Pentacrest and police arrested 228 demonstrators sitting on the steps of Old Capitol. The next day Boyd said he regretted the mass arrests of peaceful demonstrators ad blamed his decision to move Highway Patrolmen onto the campus on faulty information. The 34th Iowa Military Police Battalion then moved into the Iowa City area. A National Guard helicopter circled the Pentacrest, disrupting speakers at a mass rally and angering the crowd. Friday night a building burned or was burned - whether the act was arson was not determined. The Old Armory Temporary, which because of its vivid color students had recently christened " Big Pink," was completely gutted and later razed. For several nights thereafter some faculty members pulled "fire watch" duty in key University buildings. Saturday was peaceful as rain feel and students walked silently over the campus. Armed police stationed in Old Capitol watched the Pentacrest and a National Guard helicopter continued to circle. Sunday morning President Boyd announced that the University would remain open until the end of the semester, but that students would not be required to attend classes or take final exams if they wished to leave Iowa City. Boyd said the compromise was reached to permit students " fearing for their safety" to return home without penalty before the semester ended May 26. The three options given to students who elected against attending classes and taking finals were: - complete all course work at a later date; - accept a pass or withdraw grade now; - accept a letter grade based on work completed through May 3. Students were given two days in which to sign up for the options. Strike leaders labeled Boyd's action a "strike-breaking device" and asked students to sign non of the alternatives. However, by Tuesday, May 12, some 11,796 students - nearly two-thirds of the student body - had signed one of the three options and were preparing to leave campus. Many of the students taking the options said they did so to protect high grades they had achieved through May 3. Others said they wanted to avoid failing classes in which they were doing poorly. Many students, which admitting to parental fear of danger, said they themselves did not feel threatened. But the worst was over. Wednesday night only 40 students gathered to discuss further strike action. National Guardsmen and Highway Patrol members withdrew from the area. Classes continued quietly for those who had chosen to remain and take finals. As the strike flurry settled, the questions of an Iowa City graduate student discussing the events seemed to sum up the sentiments of many disenchanted demonstrators: " What concrete ways can we use to held end our isolation of students speaking only to students? We wish to deal with complex problems on racism imperialism etc. But complex problems unfortunately demand complex answers. Slogans may help focus attention on issues, but what are we examining beyond the rhetoric?" DISCLAIMER A Special Report from The University of Iowa, prepared by the Office of Public Information, was mailed to all alumni early in June. The entire content was devoted to a review of the campus disorders in May. The Office of Public Information has credited the Alumni Association with cooperating in the publication of the Special report. The Association wishes to advise its membership that, while it had knowledge that some kind of report was contemplated, at no time was any officer or member of the Association staff invited to participate in the preparation of copy or format. Therefore the Alumni Association disclaims any credit for publication of A Special Report from The University of Iowa. 9