DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Students for a Democratic Society, 1965-1972 | 1968-11-02 Article: 'SDS Ignores Warnings, Holds Anti-Code Rally' Page 1

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Students for a Democratic Society, 1965-1972

1968-11-02 Article: 'SDS Ignores Warnings, Holds Anti-Code Rally' Page 1

11/2/68
SDS Ignores Warnings, Holds Anti-Code Rally
By DUANE SWINTON
Members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and other speakers blasted the "repressiveness of the University" and "its involvement in the corporate structure of America" at a teach-in rally Friday noon.
The rally, whose expressed purpose was to "violate the Code of Student Life," lasted for about two and a half hours and was attended by a stationary group of about 125 students and crowds of others who drifted around between classes. All in all, an estimated 400 persons were at the rally at one point or another.
Speakers at the rally on the east steps of Old Capitol used a loudspeaker system provided by SDS despite warnings by the University administration that using loudspeakers would probably disrupt classes in nearby buildings.
Rober L. Augustine, associate dean of students, attend the rally and handed out printed statements to the students who spoke. 
The statement said that the rally was unauthorized because it had not been registered as required by University regulations and that program, as well as the sponsoring organization, is responsible for such violation of University regulations."
The statement also said that no advance action was going to be taken on the program, "on the ssumption that it will not be disruptive."
After the rally ended at 1:30 p.m., Augustine said that no decision had been reached on whether the rally was disruptive. He said that the final dicision would probably be made by Dean of Students M. L. Huit, after "weighing the implications of data" gathered by obsevers at the rally.
However, Augustine did say that, "Concerning what I observed, the rally was disruptive according to the Code of Studend Life."
Huit issued a statement later which said: 
"This morning a number of persons gathered at the east approach to Old Capitol in anticipation of what had been announced by the sponsers, Students for a Democratic Society, as a rally designed to violate the Code of Student Life. 
" A sucession of student speakers aired their views during a 2 1/2-hour period. The rally was entirely peaceful, and relatively quiet, although I understand that one or more nearby classes may have been disrupted.
"University policy is not to permit rallies and the use of loudspeakers at Old Capitol until after 4:20 p.m. to avoid disturbing the normal teaching and administrative functions, which take place in and around Old Capitol. Today's SDS rally began at 11 a.m. and a sound system with loudspeakers was used.
The spirit, as well as the letter, of the Code will be taken into account as our staff considers the nature of the action to be recommended against either the sponsor or the participants in the rally."
Also at the rally were members of the New university Conference (NUC), who acted as observers as they did at the Hawkeye Student Party-sponsored sit-in at the Business and Industrial Placement Office Monday, protesting the presence on campus of Marine Corps recruiters. 
Wearing white arm bands, NUC members wandered through the crowds taking notes and snapping photographs.
Campus Security stationed a policeman with a walkie-talkie in MacBride Hall during the rally, had another man, in plain clothes, with a tape recorder in the crowd and placed a moving piscture camera with operators in Schaeffer Hall.
Members of SDS pointed this out, calling the University another "Big Brother."

[PHOTO]
ROBERT D. RAY
Discusses Finances
Ray Says State Now in the Hole By $41 Million
KAREN GOOD
The state financial situation - what he says is an expiration of a $112 million state surplus over the last two years and a current deficit of $41 million - is the major gubernatorial campaign issue, Republican candidate Robert Ray said here Friday.
Speaking at a press conference in Iowa City's Republican headquarters, Ray said, "state administrative spending alone, over the last two years has increased 44 per cent.
"We need a much more realistic financial policy." he said. 
The former Republican state party chairman said that if he is elected, his administration would set up a priority spending program, topping the list with improvement of state universities, community colleges and secondary and elementary schools. 
Ray said that, while law enforcement is an issue of "considerable importance," he does not feel it is the major issue of the campaign, as does his Democratic opponent, State Treasurer Paul Franzenburg.
He noted, however, that he had formulated a revised law enforcement code, particularly in conjunction with juvenile offenders, "making parents financially responsable for acts of their children. I feel such a program would alleviate many of our minor crime problems."
The 39-year-old lawyer also expressed concern over student demonstrations.
"While we must recognize a person's right to dissent, we must not allow him to infringe upon the rights of others," he said. 
"I feel there is a better way to express dissent - through active political work for better government."
After the rally, William L. Binney, Chief of Campus Security, said that the stationing of security personnel at the rally was taken as "a precautionary measure."
"Not one foot of film was shot by the camera," Binney said. "The only reason a camera was there was in case an emergency arose, say in case there was a massive counterdemonstration.
"The reason the camera was in Schaeffer Hall was not because we were trying to hide it but because it requires electricity to run."
Binney said that the tape recorder was not used to tape entire rally but only parts that "require taping."
"For instance," he said, "we use the tape to record the announcement of the University's position and then any replies that might be made."
Binney said that only one uniformed policeman was at the rally and that Campus Security "did not have a body of officers ready to go charging out to the rally."
Speakers at the rally included Charles Derden, A4, Waterloo; Ken Wessels, A3, Dyersville; Ross Peterson, A3, Des Moines; Fred Gordon, internal education secretary of national SDS from ChicagoM Mike Lally, G, iowa City; Jerry Sies, A4, iowa City; and Carmen Kramer, aformer University student, now regional traveler fod SDS.
Miss kramer presented a list of demands by SDS: that the Code of Student Life, including the housing code, be abolished; that University Pres. Howard R. Bowen issue a statement of support for the black students' demands at Cornell College; and that the University prohibit any branch of the Armed Forces, any firm with defence contracts, or any firm whose employes are on strike from recruiting on campus. 
Highlight of the rally came when Lally, Peace and Freedom party candidate for Johnson Country sheriff, asked that students from the crowd file past the microphone and give their names to show their solidarity with SDS's proposals.
One hundred and seventeen people climbed Old Capitol's steps and gave their names, among them two University High School; Ann Spriestersbach, A1, Iowa City, daughter of Duane Spriestersbach, university vice president for research and dean of the Graduate College; and Phillip Hubbard, A4, Iowa City, son of Phillip Hubbard, dean of student affairs.
SDS also periodically put in plugs for its Election Day protest march in Des Moines Tuesday.
Derden, president of the Afro-American Students' Association and a former member of the Committee on Student Life, which drew up the rough draft of the code, was the first to speak and said that the committee was "in no way democratic" because it "can only ask Bowen to approve its proposals."
"The students did not decide on the code," Derden said. "The committee didn't have anything to do with the code, and President Bowen only listens to it when he's damn good and ready."
Wessels, who resigned as chairman of the Hawkeye Student Party recently, said that while serving as a student senator and student body vice president last year he learned the ineffectiveness of student government.

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11/2/68 SDS Ignores Warnings, Holds Anti-Code Rally By DUANE SWINTON Members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and other speakers blasted the "repressiveness of the University" and "its involvement in the corporate structure of America" at a teach-in rally Friday noon. The rally, whose expressed purpose was to "violate the Code of Student Life," lasted for about two and a half hours and was attended by a stationary group of about 125 students and crowds of others who drifted around between classes. All in all, an estimated 400 persons were at the rally at one point or another. Speakers at the rally on the east steps of Old Capitol used a loudspeaker system provided by SDS despite warnings by the University administration that using loudspeakers would probably disrupt classes in nearby buildings. Rober L. Augustine, associate dean of students, attend the rally and handed out printed statements to the students who spoke. The statement said that the rally was unauthorized because it had not been registered as required by University regulations and that program, as well as the sponsoring organization, is responsible for such violation of University regulations." The statement also said that no advance action was going to be taken on the program, "on the ssumption that it will not be disruptive." After the rally ended at 1:30 p.m., Augustine said that no decision had been reached on whether the rally was disruptive. He said that the final dicision would probably be made by Dean of Students M. L. Huit, after "weighing the implications of data" gathered by obsevers at the rally. However, Augustine did say that, "Concerning what I observed, the rally was disruptive according to the Code of Studend Life." Huit issued a statement later which said: "This morning a number of persons gathered at the east approach to Old Capitol in anticipation of what had been announced by the sponsers, Students for a Democratic Society, as a rally designed to violate the Code of Student Life. " A sucession of student speakers aired their views during a 2 1/2-hour period. The rally was entirely peaceful, and relatively quiet, although I understand that one or more nearby classes may have been disrupted. "University policy is not to permit rallies and the use of loudspeakers at Old Capitol until after 4:20 p.m. to avoid disturbing the normal teaching and administrative functions, which take place in and around Old Capitol. Today's SDS rally began at 11 a.m. and a sound system with loudspeakers was used. The spirit, as well as the letter, of the Code will be taken into account as our staff considers the nature of the action to be recommended against either the sponsor or the participants in the rally." Also at the rally were members of the New university Conference (NUC), who acted as observers as they did at the Hawkeye Student Party-sponsored sit-in at the Business and Industrial Placement Office Monday, protesting the presence on campus of Marine Corps recruiters. Wearing white arm bands, NUC members wandered through the crowds taking notes and snapping photographs. Campus Security stationed a policeman with a walkie-talkie in MacBride Hall during the rally, had another man, in plain clothes, with a tape recorder in the crowd and placed a moving piscture camera with operators in Schaeffer Hall. Members of SDS pointed this out, calling the University another "Big Brother." [PHOTO] ROBERT D. RAY Discusses Finances Ray Says State Now in the Hole By $41 Million KAREN GOOD The state financial situation - what he says is an expiration of a $112 million state surplus over the last two years and a current deficit of $41 million - is the major gubernatorial campaign issue, Republican candidate Robert Ray said here Friday. Speaking at a press conference in Iowa City's Republican headquarters, Ray said, "state administrative spending alone, over the last two years has increased 44 per cent. "We need a much more realistic financial policy." he said. The former Republican state party chairman said that if he is elected, his administration would set up a priority spending program, topping the list with improvement of state universities, community colleges and secondary and elementary schools. Ray said that, while law enforcement is an issue of "considerable importance," he does not feel it is the major issue of the campaign, as does his Democratic opponent, State Treasurer Paul Franzenburg. He noted, however, that he had formulated a revised law enforcement code, particularly in conjunction with juvenile offenders, "making parents financially responsable for acts of their children. I feel such a program would alleviate many of our minor crime problems." The 39-year-old lawyer also expressed concern over student demonstrations. "While we must recognize a person's right to dissent, we must not allow him to infringe upon the rights of others," he said. "I feel there is a better way to express dissent - through active political work for better government." After the rally, William L. Binney, Chief of Campus Security, said that the stationing of security personnel at the rally was taken as "a precautionary measure." "Not one foot of film was shot by the camera," Binney said. "The only reason a camera was there was in case an emergency arose, say in case there was a massive counterdemonstration. "The reason the camera was in Schaeffer Hall was not because we were trying to hide it but because it requires electricity to run." Binney said that the tape recorder was not used to tape entire rally but only parts that "require taping." "For instance," he said, "we use the tape to record the announcement of the University's position and then any replies that might be made." Binney said that only one uniformed policeman was at the rally and that Campus Security "did not have a body of officers ready to go charging out to the rally." Speakers at the rally included Charles Derden, A4, Waterloo; Ken Wessels, A3, Dyersville; Ross Peterson, A3, Des Moines; Fred Gordon, internal education secretary of national SDS from ChicagoM Mike Lally, G, iowa City; Jerry Sies, A4, iowa City; and Carmen Kramer, aformer University student, now regional traveler fod SDS. Miss kramer presented a list of demands by SDS: that the Code of Student Life, including the housing code, be abolished; that University Pres. Howard R. Bowen issue a statement of support for the black students' demands at Cornell College; and that the University prohibit any branch of the Armed Forces, any firm with defence contracts, or any firm whose employes are on strike from recruiting on campus. Highlight of the rally came when Lally, Peace and Freedom party candidate for Johnson Country sheriff, asked that students from the crowd file past the microphone and give their names to show their solidarity with SDS's proposals. One hundred and seventeen people climbed Old Capitol's steps and gave their names, among them two University High School; Ann Spriestersbach, A1, Iowa City, daughter of Duane Spriestersbach, university vice president for research and dean of the Graduate College; and Phillip Hubbard, A4, Iowa City, son of Phillip Hubbard, dean of student affairs. SDS also periodically put in plugs for its Election Day protest march in Des Moines Tuesday. Derden, president of the Afro-American Students' Association and a former member of the Committee on Student Life, which drew up the rough draft of the code, was the first to speak and said that the committee was "in no way democratic" because it "can only ask Bowen to approve its proposals." "The students did not decide on the code," Derden said. "The committee didn't have anything to do with the code, and President Bowen only listens to it when he's damn good and ready." Wessels, who resigned as chairman of the Hawkeye Student Party recently, said that while serving as a student senator and student body vice president last year he learned the ineffectiveness of student government.