DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970 | 1970-06-03 Report: ""Campus Tensions -- A Report on Iowa and Elsewhere"" Page 3

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

1970-06-03 Report: ""Campus Tensions -- A Report on Iowa and Elsewhere"" Page 3

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Campus violence already threatens some colleges and unviersities with repressive forces that could cripple their freedom for many years to come.....
Since the May Board meeting, this office has attempted to study most of the recent rhetoric and writings on campus disorder. Some of the responsible literature is detailed below. Copies of all these reports have been provided the Board.
A SHORT ANALYSIS OF FOUR REPORTS
1. The Brock Report on Student Unrest
This report was written by Rep. W. E. Brock of Tennessee, who with 22 colleagues toured 50 universities in April-May 1969. The report was submitted to President Nixon, June 17, 1969.
The Committee stated that its primary aim was "to acquire some degree of personal understanding of the nature of the problem."
We came away.....both alarmed and encouraged. We were alarmed to discover that this problem is far deeper and far more urgent than most realize, adn that it goes far beyond the efforts of organized revolutionaries. By teh same token, we were encouraged bythe candor, sincerity and basic decency of the vast majority of students we met.
.....the revolutionaries on campus are few in number. The vast majority of students are not poised on the edge of revolution and have not lost faith in our system.  ....many students can be radicalized when violence or confrontation on campus occurs. Also disillusionment in our system by students can grow, even without violence, if we place one label on all students and fail to understand that they raise many areas of legitimate concern.
The committee listed areas of concern, as expressed by students, to be:
Internal
1) Gaps in communication "Such boards (Regents) are looked upon as keepers of the status quo who make no attempt to consult with students on any decisions, including those decisions which directly affect the students."
2) Lack of responsiveness to student demands.
3) Student intolerance (Committee perception).
4) Hypocrisy on part of universities.
5) Lack of relevance by the university to the issues of the day.
6) Over-reaction by universities attempting to control campus situations.

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- 3 - Campus violence already threatens some colleges and unviersities with repressive forces that could cripple their freedom for many years to come..... Since the May Board meeting, this office has attempted to study most of the recent rhetoric and writings on campus disorder. Some of the responsible literature is detailed below. Copies of all these reports have been provided the Board. A SHORT ANALYSIS OF FOUR REPORTS 1. The Brock Report on Student Unrest This report was written by Rep. W. E. Brock of Tennessee, who with 22 colleagues toured 50 universities in April-May 1969. The report was submitted to President Nixon, June 17, 1969. The Committee stated that its primary aim was "to acquire some degree of personal understanding of the nature of the problem." We came away.....both alarmed and encouraged. We were alarmed to discover that this problem is far deeper and far more urgent than most realize, adn that it goes far beyond the efforts of organized revolutionaries. By teh same token, we were encouraged bythe candor, sincerity and basic decency of the vast majority of students we met. .....the revolutionaries on campus are few in number. The vast majority of students are not poised on the edge of revolution and have not lost faith in our system. ....many students can be radicalized when violence or confrontation on campus occurs. Also disillusionment in our system by students can grow, even without violence, if we place one label on all students and fail to understand that they raise many areas of legitimate concern. The committee listed areas of concern, as expressed by students, to be: Internal 1) Gaps in communication "Such boards (Regents) are looked upon as keepers of the status quo who make no attempt to consult with students on any decisions, including those decisions which directly affect the students." 2) Lack of responsiveness to student demands. 3) Student intolerance (Committee perception). 4) Hypocrisy on part of universities. 5) Lack of relevance by the university to the issues of the day. 6) Over-reaction by universities attempting to control campus situations.