DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa Committee on Human Rights policies, 1958-1986 | 1963-03-28 President Virgil M. Hancher to Executive Dean Ted McCarrel Page 1

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University of Iowa Committee on Human Rights policies, 1958-1986

1963-03-28 President Virgil M. Hancher to Executive Dean Ted McCarrel Page 1

STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, IOWA CITY, IOWA

[emblem to right]

Office of the President 

28 March 1963

Dear Dean McCarrel:

I have read the "Rules for Considering Complaints of Discrimination in the Renting of Apartments and Rooms."

In general, these are good rules if formal, rigid proceedings of the type indicated are necessary in all cases. 

However, it would seem that there are situations which do not require as much formality as is provided by the rules and n which a formal reference might not be needed.

For example, why should the householder be put to the trouble and expense of a conference and of bringing in professional or non-professional counselors and witnesses in plain cases of mistaken identity. There have been cases in which the complainant erroneously charged that the occupant of a numbered house has refused to rent when as a matter of fact it was the occupant of a different house. There are other cases in which these alleged refusals have been based on summary and perhaps discourteous treatment by cleaning women or other persons not authorized to speak for the householder. Should there be referee's conference when the householder has not and does not refuse to grant to the complainant?

Under the rules there is no short, inexpensive and informal way of resolving such matters. 

It also seems to me that it should be provided in the rules that the notice has actually been received by the householder. This could be done by registered or certified mail or by a call from someone in the Student Affairs Office who in addition to the mailed notice actually informs the householder of the proceeding. In a small community such as Iowa City, no householder should be proceeded against by a mailed notice in the event that he is actually out of town or in the hospital or for any other reason does not receive it or know of its existence. 

I do not understand the language of Paragraph 16. If this means that at any regularly called meeting of the committee an action may be taken

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STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, IOWA CITY, IOWA [emblem to right] Office of the President 28 March 1963 Dear Dean McCarrel: I have read the "Rules for Considering Complaints of Discrimination in the Renting of Apartments and Rooms." In general, these are good rules if formal, rigid proceedings of the type indicated are necessary in all cases. However, it would seem that there are situations which do not require as much formality as is provided by the rules and n which a formal reference might not be needed. For example, why should the householder be put to the trouble and expense of a conference and of bringing in professional or non-professional counselors and witnesses in plain cases of mistaken identity. There have been cases in which the complainant erroneously charged that the occupant of a numbered house has refused to rent when as a matter of fact it was the occupant of a different house. There are other cases in which these alleged refusals have been based on summary and perhaps discourteous treatment by cleaning women or other persons not authorized to speak for the householder. Should there be referee's conference when the householder has not and does not refuse to grant to the complainant? Under the rules there is no short, inexpensive and informal way of resolving such matters. It also seems to me that it should be provided in the rules that the notice has actually been received by the householder. This could be done by registered or certified mail or by a call from someone in the Student Affairs Office who in addition to the mailed notice actually informs the householder of the proceeding. In a small community such as Iowa City, no householder should be proceeded against by a mailed notice in the event that he is actually out of town or in the hospital or for any other reason does not receive it or know of its existence. I do not understand the language of Paragraph 16. If this means that at any regularly called meeting of the committee an action may be taken