DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Students for a Democratic Society, Herrnstein lecture, February-June, 1972 | 1972-04-08 Press-Citizen Article: 'Herrnstein's Theories Draw Another Crowd on Campus'

Transcribe
Translate

Students for a Democratic Society, Herrnstein lecture, February-June, 1972

1972-04-08 Press-Citizen Article: 'Herrnstein's Theories Draw Another Crowd on Campus'

P-C
April 8, 1972

Herrnstein's Theories Draw
Another Crows on Campus
By WILLIAM G. HLADKY
Of the Press-Citizen

The inherited intelligence theories of Prof. Richard Herrnstein attracted another large crowd on the University of Iowa campus Friday nigth - but this time the crowd did not protest Herrnstein's theories, but debated them. 
In the same lecture hall at the Physics Research Center where Herrnstein cancelled a lecture in February, a panel of six professors from the psychology, zoology, education and urban planning departments, came to a majority opinion that Herrnstein's article was "mudsy."
"(Herrnstein) did not make clear what intelligenceis," said Lowell A. Schoer, professor of educational testing. "Intelligence is not a thing. It is not something you kick up along the beach. It is a figment of the psychologist's imagination to help define behaviour."
Schoer claimed that when this point is not made clear, a "pot full of meanings" appear in the public's mind. 
 
Friday night’s panel discussion and February's protest stemmed from an article in the September 1971 issue of Atlantic Monthly, in which Harvard Prof. Herrnstein suggested that IQ is transmitted by heredity and that society will force people of low intelligence into the lower class while intelligent people will be in the upper class, 
Roger D. Milkman, professor of zoology, told the corwd of about 200 people, that not enough research has been done to suggest the inferiority of black IQ's compared to white IQ's.
"It is possible." he said. "that blacks are inferior to whites or blacks are superior in IQ, but we have no facts."
Milkman then complained about the general poor condition of science journalism, claiming, "It is too bad that there is no way of applying more editing or criticism to what we read, and that goes for the New York Times and Time Magazine."
Psychology Prof. Jacob O. Sines said that "We cannot assume" that Herrnstein implied white superiority in his article. He stressed that the data does indicate IO is hereditary in whites, though no data for blacks exists.
He points out a main theory of Herrnstein is supported with premises all beginning with “if”.
The theory goes: “If differences in mental abilities are inherited, and if success requires those abilities, and if earnings and prestige depend on success, then social standing will be based to some extent on inherited difference among people.”
These cautions “ifs” are not stressed throughout the entire story, Milkman said. After he made a careful point that the evidence is sparse. Milkman said Herrnstein then continued through the article drawing his conclusions.
One man from the audience pointed out that “Herrnstein’s problem” is he accepted the social culture of the time. That man said much of the criticism against Herrnstein from the young is based on the notion that the social culture should be changed or modified.
In Herrnstein’s world, he said, success according to ability, or IQ, is the major element in society, “Maybe people don’t think it is important for someone to work up to his fullest ability.” He said. He added: 
“It is not entirely his ideas they are rejecting. People are rejecting him because people don’t like to be sorted out.”

Because of social implications of Herrnstein’s theories, David C. Ranney, professor in urban and regional planning, said the Atlantic article does have a social and political impact, and is not “just” a scientific paper as Herrnstein has stresses.
Ranney pointed out the thinking which Herrnstein espoused has also been stresses by Daniel Patrick Moynihan and James S. Coleman. Since they were presidential advisers, the theories do have a political significance, Ranney said.
Norton Wheeler, a member of the students for a Democratic Society, told the audience that since Ranney had “stablished” the political impact of intelligence theories, the panel should discuss methods to “counter-act” such theories. 
Prof. Sines responded. “Some strategy,” he told the SDSer. “If you want a club don’t pick IQ test. It is a weak club to pound against poverty… It won’t work.”

Saving...

P-C April 8, 1972 Herrnstein's Theories Draw Another Crows on Campus By WILLIAM G. HLADKY Of the Press-Citizen The inherited intelligence theories of Prof. Richard Herrnstein attracted another large crowd on the University of Iowa campus Friday nigth - but this time the crowd did not protest Herrnstein's theories, but debated them. In the same lecture hall at the Physics Research Center where Herrnstein cancelled a lecture in February, a panel of six professors from the psychology, zoology, education and urban planning departments, came to a majority opinion that Herrnstein's article was "mudsy." "(Herrnstein) did not make clear what intelligenceis," said Lowell A. Schoer, professor of educational testing. "Intelligence is not a thing. It is not something you kick up along the beach. It is a figment of the psychologist's imagination to help define behaviour." Schoer claimed that when this point is not made clear, a "pot full of meanings" appear in the public's mind. Friday night’s panel discussion and February's protest stemmed from an article in the September 1971 issue of Atlantic Monthly, in which Harvard Prof. Herrnstein suggested that IQ is transmitted by heredity and that society will force people of low intelligence into the lower class while intelligent people will be in the upper class, Roger D. Milkman, professor of zoology, told the corwd of about 200 people, that not enough research has been done to suggest the inferiority of black IQ's compared to white IQ's. "It is possible." he said. "that blacks are inferior to whites or blacks are superior in IQ, but we have no facts." Milkman then complained about the general poor condition of science journalism, claiming, "It is too bad that there is no way of applying more editing or criticism to what we read, and that goes for the New York Times and Time Magazine." Psychology Prof. Jacob O. Sines said that "We cannot assume" that Herrnstein implied white superiority in his article. He stressed that the data does indicate IO is hereditary in whites, though no data for blacks exists. He points out a main theory of Herrnstein is supported with premises all beginning with “if”. The theory goes: “If differences in mental abilities are inherited, and if success requires those abilities, and if earnings and prestige depend on success, then social standing will be based to some extent on inherited difference among people.” These cautions “ifs” are not stressed throughout the entire story, Milkman said. After he made a careful point that the evidence is sparse. Milkman said Herrnstein then continued through the article drawing his conclusions. One man from the audience pointed out that “Herrnstein’s problem” is he accepted the social culture of the time. That man said much of the criticism against Herrnstein from the young is based on the notion that the social culture should be changed or modified. In Herrnstein’s world, he said, success according to ability, or IQ, is the major element in society, “Maybe people don’t think it is important for someone to work up to his fullest ability.” He said. He added: “It is not entirely his ideas they are rejecting. People are rejecting him because people don’t like to be sorted out.” Because of social implications of Herrnstein’s theories, David C. Ranney, professor in urban and regional planning, said the Atlantic article does have a social and political impact, and is not “just” a scientific paper as Herrnstein has stresses. Ranney pointed out the thinking which Herrnstein espoused has also been stresses by Daniel Patrick Moynihan and James S. Coleman. Since they were presidential advisers, the theories do have a political significance, Ranney said. Norton Wheeler, a member of the students for a Democratic Society, told the audience that since Ranney had “stablished” the political impact of intelligence theories, the panel should discuss methods to “counter-act” such theories. Prof. Sines responded. “Some strategy,” he told the SDSer. “If you want a club don’t pick IQ test. It is a weak club to pound against poverty… It won’t work.”