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Student demonstrations correspondence, 1965

1965-10-26 Washington Evening Journal Editorial: ""Good Judgment by Dr. Bowen"" Page 1

The Washington Evening Journal since 1895

Tuesday, October 26, 1965

EDITORIALS

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 

Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit - Matt 28:19

The commission of Christ comes to fulfill our nature in the bond of the gospel. 

"And what is your word for today, Dr Strabismus?"

"It isn't what you eat that brings on ulcers, it's what's eating you."

Good Judgement by Dr. Bowen
"CEDAR FALLS, IA - In a letter to University of Iowa, President Howard Bowen, former Republican State Representative Chester Hougen of Cedar Falls harshly criticized the university for allowing the recent Viet Nam protests to be held on campus."

Mr. Hougen's criticism is unjustified

Far from making a mistake in permitting the student protesters to hold their meeting on the campus. Dr. Bowen handled the situation very well indeed, and his good judgement has been born out by what followed. 
The comparatively small group of students held their protest meeting, they made their speeches, harangued their audience, sang their songs; and one of them publicly burned what he said was his draft card. 
The effect of all this on most of the students in the University and certainly on the Iowa public at large was not at all what the protesters wanted or expected. The only students they convinced were those who already believed they were right. And - by their own foolish words and actions - they convinced a great many more students they were dead wrong.
That is the way a democracy is supposed to work; and we suspect that Dr. Bowen was pretty sure all along it would work out just that way. 
Had the university attempted to forbid the meeting, the meeting would have been held anyway - if not on campus, then off . Moreover the protesting students then could have claimed they were being persecuted, their ideas squelched their freedom of speech denied, and their rights as American citizens suppressed As it is they can claim no such thing. 
The young man who burned what he said was his draft card met just exactly what he could expect and what he asked for. He was arrested, freed on bond, then called up for a hearing before the U.S. Commissioner on a charge carrying a maximum penalty on five years in prison or $10,000. Moreover, he has no one to blame but himself - unless he is secretly put out with President Bowen for not trying to stop his nonsense. 
Not too many years ago the professional prophets were decrying the lack of interest by college students in public affairs. Now that the students show interest and concern we should be glad of it and not worry unduly that a small number of them come up with wild and passionate ideas with which we do not agree. 
Let them talk, we say: let their own words, if foolish, convict them of foolishness. That's precisely what happened at Iowa City. 
President Howard Bowen is to be congratulated.

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The Washington Evening Journal since 1895 Tuesday, October 26, 1965 EDITORIALS THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit - Matt 28:19 The commission of Christ comes to fulfill our nature in the bond of the gospel. "And what is your word for today, Dr Strabismus?" "It isn't what you eat that brings on ulcers, it's what's eating you." Good Judgement by Dr. Bowen "CEDAR FALLS, IA - In a letter to University of Iowa, President Howard Bowen, former Republican State Representative Chester Hougen of Cedar Falls harshly criticized the university for allowing the recent Viet Nam protests to be held on campus." Mr. Hougen's criticism is unjustified Far from making a mistake in permitting the student protesters to hold their meeting on the campus. Dr. Bowen handled the situation very well indeed, and his good judgement has been born out by what followed. The comparatively small group of students held their protest meeting, they made their speeches, harangued their audience, sang their songs; and one of them publicly burned what he said was his draft card. The effect of all this on most of the students in the University and certainly on the Iowa public at large was not at all what the protesters wanted or expected. The only students they convinced were those who already believed they were right. And - by their own foolish words and actions - they convinced a great many more students they were dead wrong. That is the way a democracy is supposed to work; and we suspect that Dr. Bowen was pretty sure all along it would work out just that way. Had the university attempted to forbid the meeting, the meeting would have been held anyway - if not on campus, then off . Moreover the protesting students then could have claimed they were being persecuted, their ideas squelched their freedom of speech denied, and their rights as American citizens suppressed As it is they can claim no such thing. The young man who burned what he said was his draft card met just exactly what he could expect and what he asked for. He was arrested, freed on bond, then called up for a hearing before the U.S. Commissioner on a charge carrying a maximum penalty on five years in prison or $10,000. Moreover, he has no one to blame but himself - unless he is secretly put out with President Bowen for not trying to stop his nonsense. Not too many years ago the professional prophets were decrying the lack of interest by college students in public affairs. Now that the students show interest and concern we should be glad of it and not worry unduly that a small number of them come up with wild and passionate ideas with which we do not agree. Let them talk, we say: let their own words, if foolish, convict them of foolishness. That's precisely what happened at Iowa City. President Howard Bowen is to be congratulated.