DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Students for a Democratic Society, 1965-1972 | 1968-12-07 Article: 'SDS Stages Repeat Of Anti-Code Rally'

Transcribe
Translate

Students for a Democratic Society, 1965-1972

1968-12-07 Article: 'SDS Stages Repeat Of Anti-Code Rally'

SDS Stages Repeat Of Anti-Code Rally
By DUANE SWINTON
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), already threatened with disciplinary action for holding an unauthorized rally on Nov. 1, held another rally Friday afternoon which may result in further action against the organization and individual students.
Friday's rally was staged o the east steps of Old Capitol from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a place and time "unauthorized" under University regulations.
The main purposes of the rally, according to SDS, were to violate the Code of Students Life and to show support for three students charged with violating the Code. 
Rohel L. Augustine, associate dean of students, attended the rally and handed out printed statements to speakers, advising them that the rally was unauthorized and that persons and organizations participating were violating University regulations.
Some members of SDS asked that Augustine leave and not interfere with the rally. Augustine replied that "the University feels each individual should be informed that the rally is unauthorized."
Augustine remained throughout the rally, giving names to his secretary to write down and sometimes atanding inside Old Capitol because of the brisk weather.
About 200 people attended the rally.
The rally was not registered with the Office of Space Assignment and Utilization, which is responsible for scheduling events no the Pentacrest. A loudspeaker was also used although University officials had previously said that using a loudspeaker might disrupt classes in nearby buildings.
Brief skits parodying University Pres. Howard R. Bowen, the State Board of Regents and Campus Security officers were presented between speeches. 
In one skit, Richard Timmins, A4, Estherville, dressed in a cape and wearing a paper sack for a hat, represented a character he called "super Howie."
About 10 members of SDS and representatives of the New University Conference (UNC), the Iowa City Peace and Freedom Club and the Hawkeye Area Draft Counseling Service spoke at the rally, despite Augustine's warnings. 
SDS made three demands at the rally: that the Code be abolished, that SDS and the three students charged with violating the Code be granted amnesty and that the hearings for SDS and the students all be scheduled at the same time.
Howard J. Ehrlich, associate professor of sociology and anthropology, represented the NUC and said that the graduate facultygroup "stands beside SDS in public violation of the Code and in support of the students charged with violating the Code."
he said that the NUC had not participated in previous rallies this eyar but had come out in support of Friday's rally because "student and faculty demands concerning the Code have all been ignored."
Another faculty member, Robert F. Sayre, associate professor of english, also spoke at the rally.
Sayre called the rally the "most memorable happening at the University today" and said "an open forum" should exist at the University so the Code and issues behind it can be freely discussed. 
Sayre said that he did not completely agree with all the demands of SDS and the three students. "I'm critical of both the students and the administration but I'm more critical of the administration," he said.
Whether the two faculty members will face any disciplinary action for speaking at the rally remains to be seen.
Dewey B. Stuit, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, said Friday afternoon he was "not prepared at this time to say if any action would be taken" against Ehrlich and Sayre.
Stuit did not attend the rally and said he would have to study reports of what occurred before any decision on taking action could be made.
However, Stuit said, "As I understand the situation, the rally was clearly unauthorized and participation in it by faculty members is not in the best interest of the University."
Any further charges against SDS and speakers at the rally of violating the Code would probably be made through the Office of Student Affairs.
The Office has already charged SDS; Jerry Sies, A4, Iowa City; Ken Wessels, A3, Dyersville; and Dan Cheeseman, A4, Elkader, with violating the Code for participation in the Nov. 1 rally, which also was held to protest the Code. Sies is also charged with other Code violations for taking part in an Oct. 28 sit-in that protested recruiting by Marines on campus.
Sies' hearing before the Committee on Student Conduct (CSC) has been scheduled for Wednesday and SDS's hearing has been set for Dec. 17.
CSC Chairman James F. Curtis, professor of speech pathology, said Thursday that charges against Wessels and Cheeseman would be heard simultaneously but that their hearing would not be scheduled at the same time as Sies'.
The three students face possible expulsion or suspension from the University under the charges and SDS could have its charter revoked. If any students are charged because of Friday's rally, they would face the same possible penalties. 
The climax to friday's rally came when 72 people filed past the microphone and stated their names and student ID numbers as an expression of their support of SDS's proposals. 
About 120 persons did the same thing at the Nov. 1 rally. SDS has charged that the university is "on a witch hunt" because only three of those students were charged with violations of the Code.

December 7, 1968
Daily Iowan

Saving...

SDS Stages Repeat Of Anti-Code Rally By DUANE SWINTON Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), already threatened with disciplinary action for holding an unauthorized rally on Nov. 1, held another rally Friday afternoon which may result in further action against the organization and individual students. Friday's rally was staged o the east steps of Old Capitol from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a place and time "unauthorized" under University regulations. The main purposes of the rally, according to SDS, were to violate the Code of Students Life and to show support for three students charged with violating the Code. Rohel L. Augustine, associate dean of students, attended the rally and handed out printed statements to speakers, advising them that the rally was unauthorized and that persons and organizations participating were violating University regulations. Some members of SDS asked that Augustine leave and not interfere with the rally. Augustine replied that "the University feels each individual should be informed that the rally is unauthorized." Augustine remained throughout the rally, giving names to his secretary to write down and sometimes atanding inside Old Capitol because of the brisk weather. About 200 people attended the rally. The rally was not registered with the Office of Space Assignment and Utilization, which is responsible for scheduling events no the Pentacrest. A loudspeaker was also used although University officials had previously said that using a loudspeaker might disrupt classes in nearby buildings. Brief skits parodying University Pres. Howard R. Bowen, the State Board of Regents and Campus Security officers were presented between speeches. In one skit, Richard Timmins, A4, Estherville, dressed in a cape and wearing a paper sack for a hat, represented a character he called "super Howie." About 10 members of SDS and representatives of the New University Conference (UNC), the Iowa City Peace and Freedom Club and the Hawkeye Area Draft Counseling Service spoke at the rally, despite Augustine's warnings. SDS made three demands at the rally: that the Code be abolished, that SDS and the three students charged with violating the Code be granted amnesty and that the hearings for SDS and the students all be scheduled at the same time. Howard J. Ehrlich, associate professor of sociology and anthropology, represented the NUC and said that the graduate facultygroup "stands beside SDS in public violation of the Code and in support of the students charged with violating the Code." he said that the NUC had not participated in previous rallies this eyar but had come out in support of Friday's rally because "student and faculty demands concerning the Code have all been ignored." Another faculty member, Robert F. Sayre, associate professor of english, also spoke at the rally. Sayre called the rally the "most memorable happening at the University today" and said "an open forum" should exist at the University so the Code and issues behind it can be freely discussed. Sayre said that he did not completely agree with all the demands of SDS and the three students. "I'm critical of both the students and the administration but I'm more critical of the administration," he said. Whether the two faculty members will face any disciplinary action for speaking at the rally remains to be seen. Dewey B. Stuit, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, said Friday afternoon he was "not prepared at this time to say if any action would be taken" against Ehrlich and Sayre. Stuit did not attend the rally and said he would have to study reports of what occurred before any decision on taking action could be made. However, Stuit said, "As I understand the situation, the rally was clearly unauthorized and participation in it by faculty members is not in the best interest of the University." Any further charges against SDS and speakers at the rally of violating the Code would probably be made through the Office of Student Affairs. The Office has already charged SDS; Jerry Sies, A4, Iowa City; Ken Wessels, A3, Dyersville; and Dan Cheeseman, A4, Elkader, with violating the Code for participation in the Nov. 1 rally, which also was held to protest the Code. Sies is also charged with other Code violations for taking part in an Oct. 28 sit-in that protested recruiting by Marines on campus. Sies' hearing before the Committee on Student Conduct (CSC) has been scheduled for Wednesday and SDS's hearing has been set for Dec. 17. CSC Chairman James F. Curtis, professor of speech pathology, said Thursday that charges against Wessels and Cheeseman would be heard simultaneously but that their hearing would not be scheduled at the same time as Sies'. The three students face possible expulsion or suspension from the University under the charges and SDS could have its charter revoked. If any students are charged because of Friday's rally, they would face the same possible penalties. The climax to friday's rally came when 72 people filed past the microphone and stated their names and student ID numbers as an expression of their support of SDS's proposals. About 120 persons did the same thing at the Nov. 1 rally. SDS has charged that the university is "on a witch hunt" because only three of those students were charged with violations of the Code. December 7, 1968 Daily Iowan