DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Students for a Democratic Society, 1965-1972 | 1972-04-13 Article: 'Hearing on 2 UI Groups Over, No Action Taken Page 1

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Students for a Democratic Society, 1965-1972

1972-04-13 Article: 'Hearing on 2 UI Groups Over, No Action Taken Page 1

Hearing on 2 UI Groups Over, No Action Taken 
An early admission that the Worker-Student Alliance Action (WSA) group is the same as the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) set the tone for the University if Iowa disciplinary hearing today concearning the two groups.
The hearing, which ended after only two hours, was held in the Johnson County Court House this morning.
The university also has charged sophomore Simon Piller, 20, Highland Park, Ill., for registering university conference rooms in his name for the Worker - Student group. The charges comes under the UI student conduct rules. 
Piller was fined $10 earlier today in Iowa City police court for posting an (SDS) poster on university property April 5.

The university suspended the SDS last spring for blocking entrance to the university placement office in protest against a Defense Intelligence Agency recruiter on campus. The SDS membership then formed the Worker-Student Alliance, which received university recognition.
Although Piller admitted to the charges, he argued the university tried to connect the Worker - Student group to the suspended SDS because the university had no evidence that they caused Prof. Richard Herrnestein to cancel his lecture. 
Herrnstein, a Harvard psychology professor, cancelled a scheduled lecture here in late February because of protesting students.

Bruce Johnson, a long-time SDS member and counsel for Piller, called Howard N. Sokol to the stand. Sokol was representing the university in prosecuting the groups and Piller. 
Under questioning, Sokol admitted the university had no evidence against anyone concerning the Herrnstein incident. He then added:
"It was a sad day for academic freedom when Herrnstein cancelled his lecture. If you slay Herrnstein, you won't help the black race. You are trying to slay him before you know if he is right or wrong."
Sokol earlier had represented leaflets which were sponsored by both SDS and Student-Worker groups. He also presented newspaper articles quoring Piller as saying the SDS and the Worker-Studente Alliance were the same group.
In his closing statement, Piller said: "I can't deny committing the violations that they say I am charged with. . . the charges are phoney, trumped up. . . and racist in nature, since they are for us banning a racist (Herrnstein)."
He said the Worker-Student Alliance "never pretend to be something different (than SDS)." He argued the university knew this all along, but decided not to do anything until the Herrnstein incident.
Hearing officer, Judge Theodore Garfield, former Iowa Supreme Court judge, will present his recommendation to UI President Willard Boyd in a few weeks. Boyd has the final decision on any action taken against the Worker-Student Alliance and Piller.
Sokol has asked that the SDS be suspended three more years and be placed on probation for two years after that. He suggested that Piller be suspended from school. 
The present SDS suspension will end this spring. It will then be on probation one year.

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Hearing on 2 UI Groups Over, No Action Taken An early admission that the Worker-Student Alliance Action (WSA) group is the same as the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) set the tone for the University if Iowa disciplinary hearing today concearning the two groups. The hearing, which ended after only two hours, was held in the Johnson County Court House this morning. The university also has charged sophomore Simon Piller, 20, Highland Park, Ill., for registering university conference rooms in his name for the Worker - Student group. The charges comes under the UI student conduct rules. Piller was fined $10 earlier today in Iowa City police court for posting an (SDS) poster on university property April 5. The university suspended the SDS last spring for blocking entrance to the university placement office in protest against a Defense Intelligence Agency recruiter on campus. The SDS membership then formed the Worker-Student Alliance, which received university recognition. Although Piller admitted to the charges, he argued the university tried to connect the Worker - Student group to the suspended SDS because the university had no evidence that they caused Prof. Richard Herrnestein to cancel his lecture. Herrnstein, a Harvard psychology professor, cancelled a scheduled lecture here in late February because of protesting students. Bruce Johnson, a long-time SDS member and counsel for Piller, called Howard N. Sokol to the stand. Sokol was representing the university in prosecuting the groups and Piller. Under questioning, Sokol admitted the university had no evidence against anyone concerning the Herrnstein incident. He then added: "It was a sad day for academic freedom when Herrnstein cancelled his lecture. If you slay Herrnstein, you won't help the black race. You are trying to slay him before you know if he is right or wrong." Sokol earlier had represented leaflets which were sponsored by both SDS and Student-Worker groups. He also presented newspaper articles quoring Piller as saying the SDS and the Worker-Studente Alliance were the same group. In his closing statement, Piller said: "I can't deny committing the violations that they say I am charged with. . . the charges are phoney, trumped up. . . and racist in nature, since they are for us banning a racist (Herrnstein)." He said the Worker-Student Alliance "never pretend to be something different (than SDS)." He argued the university knew this all along, but decided not to do anything until the Herrnstein incident. Hearing officer, Judge Theodore Garfield, former Iowa Supreme Court judge, will present his recommendation to UI President Willard Boyd in a few weeks. Boyd has the final decision on any action taken against the Worker-Student Alliance and Piller. Sokol has asked that the SDS be suspended three more years and be placed on probation for two years after that. He suggested that Piller be suspended from school. The present SDS suspension will end this spring. It will then be on probation one year.