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Emil L. Rinderspacher selected papers, 1970-1971

A Special Report from The University of Iowa Page 4

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TROUBLED IOWA REMAINS OPEN AND AVERTS MAJOR VIOLENCE THIS SPECIAL REPORT was prepared in the Office of Public Information and University Relations in cooperation with the President Office, Alumni Association, Iowa Dads Association, and SPECTATOR. Following is the complete text of a letter from University President Willard L. Boyd to parents of students, to alumni, and to others concerned with the welfare of The University of Iowa: The University remains open. This policy reflects the desire of faculty , students, administration, and the Board of Regents. Before referring to specific events of recent weeks it is essential to bear in two general conditions which obtained throughout that period. First, during the year I have stated repeatedly in speeches throughout the state that while it is true that only a small minority of students have been disruptive and abusive of the democratic process, a substantial number of students are gravely troubled about society's inability to resolve many questions such as race, war, and poverty. There is not a single man or woman on any college or university campus in the country who does not feel strongly about the war. These concerns were greatly accelerated by the escalation of the war in Viet Nam. Secondly, the campus anti war demonstrations in Iowa City were peaceful with only isolated examples of violence. Notwithstanding the non-violent nature of these demonstrations, a number of people became concerned about public safety because of these isolated instances of violence and the circulation of an incredible number of unsubstantiated, threatening rumors. With these factors in mind, I would like to refer to certain major events which took place during the demonstration period. 1. Cancellation of Governor's Day In view of the emotionally charged situation in Iowa City as well as throughout the country. I was urged by both student and senior ROTC officers, the Faculty Council, the deans local civil and law enforcement officials, and a great many students to cancel the annual ROTC observance. After careful consideration, I decided that I must accept their collective judgment, but at the same time I pointed out that the University was acceding to force and preventing students enrolled in an authorized University program from carrying on that program. 2. Options. The atmosphere in Iowa City continued to be charged with the circulation of the rumors I have mentioned earlier.This problem was compounded by the burning of the Old Armory Temporary (Rhetoric) Building early Saturday morning. That morning the Student Senate passed a resolution recommending that the University be closed. I immediately met with the Faculty Council and the collegiate deans, It was our joint conclusion that the University should remain open and that we should discuss with students the issue of safety. On Saturday afternoon I met with the deans, Faculty Council and representatives of various University wide and college student organizations. During a calm and reasoned discussion it was concluded that it would be desirable to keep the University open but to provide an opportunity for those students who feared for their safety to withdraw. The collegiate deans then proceeded to the formation of the options. These options are consistent with long standing procedures by which students who have good cause can leave classes without unwarranted penalty. No student will suffer for having left. In announcing these options, I stated: "I have been urged by a number of concerned students to close the University at once as a means of expressing the opposition of the University community to the war in Viet Nam. I sympathize greatly with those who condemn the war, but I cannot make the University the political agent of any group, no matter how much I might personally condemn recent actions in Southeast Asia. "For those who say that the military intervention in Cambodia is an important symbol at this time. I must respond that learning in a free society is an equally important symbol. "If the University were to give in to force at this time, a great principle would be lost. This principle embodies the notion that the continued access to learning and the services of the University for all who want them should be maintained. No one group within the community has the right to impose its will upon the rest of the community and thus preclude others from obtaining the University services to which they are entitled. "The University must represent the interests of all, no matter what their stand on the war. We cannot compromise on that issue. The University will therefore, remain open and its usual academic functions will be maintained. Everything possible will be done to secure the safety of all members of the University community and University facilities." 3. Reserve Officer Training Corps The status of ROTC on this campus has been under review during the past year. The ROTC programs are located in the College of Liberal Arts where recommendations as to the contents of the programs have been developed. At the same time the University Faculty Senate Committee on Federal Relationships had been reviewing ROTC. The report of this committee had long been scheduled for discussion by the Senate on May 2. The Senate met and after a tie vote on the issue, voted to recommend to the president that the University not renew its ROTC contract. This Senate vote indicates a divided faculty. At the same time, it is well understood that the final decision on ROTC is for the Board of Regents. The status of ROTC will be brought before the Regents t their June meeting. I have called for a review of the various recommendations concerning ROTC for presentation to the Regents. To this end, I referred the Faculty Senate resolution to the deans of the undergraduate colleges with the request that the colleges report back within two weeks. In addition, three members of the Faculty Senate, the dean of Business Administration, a student elected by the Student Senate, and one elected by the ROTC students are working with Provost Heffner to develop a report for the Board of Regents. I cannot stress enough the important fact that the University remained open and that there was no major violence. This is due to the restraint and concern of thousands of faculty students, staff , peace officers and public. I am confident that The University of Iowa is now and will be in the coming academic year an institution where students can secure an education comensurate with their expectations for future life. Many parents have written and spoken to me in recent days. When I was asked about exercise of the options. I urged students to stay, for I believe in this University and its mission. Some felt I was callous and indifferent to the threat of danger. The fact remains that universities have been endangered throughout their history. Never before has it been more important for us to stand fast in our dedication to free inquiry. In response to many parents, I have urged them to discuss the events of the past few weeks with their sons and daughters. In doing so, I hope there will come a resolve to support this University and to develop greater understanding and tolerance within and among the generations. Sincerely yours, Willard L. Boyd University President Willard L . Boyd AN EYEWITNESS REPORT FROM THE OLDER GENERATION Dr. E. V. Andrew, a Maquoketa physician who recived his medical degree at Iowa in 1930 was in Iowa City May 5 to attend a meeting of the Iowa Cancer Information Service with Mrs. Ruth Lindblad, medical records supervisor at the Jackson County Public Hospital. Later, Dr. Andrew recorded some of his impressions of the campus scene in an article published in the Maquoketa newspaper, the Jackson Sentinel. Following are excerpts from Dr. Andrew's article: The meeting was pretty boring and I got so sleepy that I could scarcely stay awake. After listening to a talk on the retrieving of information programmed into a computer, I sneaked out to see what might be going on. There was an air of excitement about the place and I was handed some mimeographed papers urging me to attend a "non-violent demonstration" and rally to be held at 6 p.m. in front of the Old Capitol... I walked up to several of the small groups and said that I was a stranger in town and asked what was going on. They were very polite and called me "sir" and went on at great length explaining that their protest was against the killing of the four students in Ohio, the invasion of Cambodia, the whole Vietnamese war and the fact that as students they were an oppressed minority group, unable to make their voice heard anywhere, yet it would be they who would have to do the fighting in a war which they felt to be abhorrent. They were hairy looking, with hair down to their shoulders and luxuriant crops of it on their faces. A lot of them looked like the pictures of Castro. Some wore head bands that reminded me of the pictures of the Indian chief, Cochise or Geronimo or one of those, I forgot which. The girls were gotten up as sloppily as seemed possible to be .. When the cancer meeting was over for Mrs. Lindblad we walked uptown. Quite a number of stores has smashed windows are were boarded up. We sat on the Old Capitol steps. People were gathering and some came and sat on the steps too, and I eavesdropped on the conversation. These were several of the people who had been arrested. One of the girls asked another if her folks knew about her escapade and she said that they probably would read it in the paper and she was expecting to be "jerked out of school." I had made the comment several times that if I had children in college and they engaged in that sort of activity they would be out on their ear without financial support, looking for a way to make a living the best they could - and it would seem that some other parents might have the same general idea.... We got up and wandered about and I talked to probably a dozen individuals or small groups....They were universally very vocal and intelligent and believed in what they were saying and doing. They almost always referred to me as "Dad". They would say, "Well, Dad, how would you protest the war?" I said that I didn't believe in it either, and thought it was a terrible mistake and I didn't know how I would protest. They said, "Well then, Dad don't knock it" I said that I wasn't knocking it; I was just curious and that I had heard and read about this sort of thing... A truck with a rock band rolled up and got down to business on the Old Capitol steps. The lectures and talks began.... They made and read resolutions and the band played and everybody was having a ball and there was a general feeling that this was democracy in action... About nine o'clock ... several of the street corners were blocked with several hundred students t each. I would estimate the crowd at between two and three thousand. Some were standing about, milling about and others walking around and about. A large number were simply sitting in the streets at the intersection. Many were squatting like Indians with blankets wrapped about them. One corner had a group reading by an old-fashioned kerosene lamp. At another there were a couple of mattresses with people lying on them. Quite a number were just lying down one or two playing with dogs. Some were wheeling baby-buggies about and I think there were probably babies in them but I wasn't sure. No traffic moved and a couple of transcontinental buses with passengers abroad were parked with the engines running. There was some automobile traffic at the edges of the area and this was being directed by students. More toward the center, cars were stopped and made to turn around and go away. I saw no police and no rocks were thrown. I had a feeling that there was a general air of expectancy and that had there been a show of force on the part of the police there would have been a genuine destructive riot. I also had a feeling that the crowd might almost have welcomed one, so they too could have their share of martyrs to further their cause. We wandered about for a couple of hours and then left. i had the strangest feeling that these kids were all right; that they had the courage of their convictions and were willing to stand up and fight for what they thought was right. I felt a wave of sympathy for them in spite of the way they dress and look. I have a feeling that if they can control the radical almost semi-professional agitators, they might just accidentally get this darn war ended and maybe get this country back on a decent, civilized track again. They surely seem able to see through hypocrisy and lies and political actions of expediency. I think the whole student reaction has been crystallized and sharpened by the killings in Ohio and I think that they feel that if there is a recurrence of this in another place or two this country will be in real trouble. As I said before, I had often commented that if I had a kid in college in one of these things that his career would end right now, but now I am not so sure. I almost had a feeling that I might just say to one of them to "get with it and do your thing; Dad is behind you" At least they are trying to do something and about all I am doing is talking about it. In answer to the one lad's question about all I would know to do to end the war would be to refuse to pay taxes and I would wind up in jail right off, probably. I wouldn't much care to be there. Actually, I don't have any real positive opinions about any of the whole business and what I have written is just a series of impressions and feeling that I had,. It was a real unusual experience. A STUDENT'S PLEA The following is a portion of a report from a Sioux City student Sandra Goldberg, written at the height of the demonstrations and reprinted from Miss Goldberg's hometown newspaper, the Sioux City Journal: The important thing here is that the campus is in a state of tension generated by great masses of students gathering on the Pentacrest occasionally moving into the downtown streets, picketing classroom buildings, sitting in and stopping an ROTC function involving the governor, and calling for The University of Iowa to join other colleges and universities by closing down. No one really knows what is happening; it is not organized; there are too many groups with differing courses of action to organize on a large scale. There is no firm leadership here; everything is spontaneous. There is, of course, a small radical group advocating violence. But the majority of participants here are not so-called "long haired revolutionaries." The "war" has been brought home and escalated in the streets, National Guardsmen are camped two miles out of Iowa City. Highway patrolmen have joined the Iowa City police and Johnson County sheriff's men. They are all armed and riot equipped. A national Guard helicopter hovers over the campus. Leaflets are distributed on the streets by student monitors (student group designed to prevent violent action and "keep the cool") listing places to receive medical attention and what to do in case of tear gas or Mace. We are not "self-styled revolutionaries" or "bums" We are your sons and daughters. We are tired of being silent and passive. If sending in troops is our parents' answer to our cry we cannot listen. The issues are ever present and the time is now. We are asking to be heard. I beg you to listen.
 
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