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 7

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

1970-06-03 Report: ""Campus Tensions -- A Report on Iowa and Elsewhere"" Page 7

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The national sample listed or ranked the top ten issues over whcih students protest. Ranking No. 1 with 30% of the respondents was Vietnam, followed in order by dormitory regulations, civil rights issues, lack of student participation in campus policy-making, food service, controversy over a faculty member, disarmament, student administration communication, and racial discrimination in areas of admissions and censorship. After extensive review of these issues as related to both private and public colleges, the question was asked:
How can we build in the energy, the concern, the hard listening, the sense of crisis which will allow institutions to change without protest?
One of their interesting conclusions is the students collectively will speak when three factors converge.
1) A general feeling of irritation or unrest that reaches a significant number.
2) An issue, however extraneous to the reasons for the general unrest, around which student opinion can crystalize in some form of polarity to the administrative position.
3) A leadership either completely spontaneous or available to some previously existent but dormant organization.
Seldom will the latter be either the student government or the student newspaper unless one of them undertakes an active campaign to head a crusade of some meaning at the moment. Should these factors converge, the result could be a demonstration or an overt action such as the occupation of a building. In either case the immediate thrust of the effort is to establish direct communcation with someone, usually the president, who is believed capable of accomplishing something to rectify what is perceived as wrong.
The Committee made recommendations relating to the areas of legislation, governance, academic affairs, campus security, coordination and communication. These recommendations were sent out to member of the Board prior to the Board meeting. As will be seen later, some of their recommendations also should be considered when discussing the Iowa situation. Thee include the following:
1. Legislation should make clear that campus rules apply to all persons who enter the campus.
2. Legislature should consider a motion of confidence in institutional abilities to manage their own affairs.
3. Establish communication facilitating groups such as campus-wide senates and ombudsmen.
4. Trustees must take initiative to establish contact with on-campus groups.

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- 7 - The national sample listed or ranked the top ten issues over whcih students protest. Ranking No. 1 with 30% of the respondents was Vietnam, followed in order by dormitory regulations, civil rights issues, lack of student participation in campus policy-making, food service, controversy over a faculty member, disarmament, student administration communication, and racial discrimination in areas of admissions and censorship. After extensive review of these issues as related to both private and public colleges, the question was asked: How can we build in the energy, the concern, the hard listening, the sense of crisis which will allow institutions to change without protest? One of their interesting conclusions is the students collectively will speak when three factors converge. 1) A general feeling of irritation or unrest that reaches a significant number. 2) An issue, however extraneous to the reasons for the general unrest, around which student opinion can crystalize in some form of polarity to the administrative position. 3) A leadership either completely spontaneous or available to some previously existent but dormant organization. Seldom will the latter be either the student government or the student newspaper unless one of them undertakes an active campaign to head a crusade of some meaning at the moment. Should these factors converge, the result could be a demonstration or an overt action such as the occupation of a building. In either case the immediate thrust of the effort is to establish direct communcation with someone, usually the president, who is believed capable of accomplishing something to rectify what is perceived as wrong. The Committee made recommendations relating to the areas of legislation, governance, academic affairs, campus security, coordination and communication. These recommendations were sent out to member of the Board prior to the Board meeting. As will be seen later, some of their recommendations also should be considered when discussing the Iowa situation. Thee include the following: 1. Legislation should make clear that campus rules apply to all persons who enter the campus. 2. Legislature should consider a motion of confidence in institutional abilities to manage their own affairs. 3. Establish communication facilitating groups such as campus-wide senates and ombudsmen. 4. Trustees must take initiative to establish contact with on-campus groups.