DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Students for a Democratic Society, Herrnstein lecture, February-June, 1972 | 1972-03-01 Daily Iowan Article: 'Faculty calls for investigation of Herrnstein lecture incident'

Transcribe
Translate

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

1972-03-01 Daily Iowan Article: 'Faculty calls for investigation of Herrnstein lecture incident'

Faculty calls for investigation of Herrnstein lecture incident
By JERRY DEPEW
Daily Iowan Staff Writer
A motion "deploring the behavior of certain persons" who "prevented the delivery of scholarly lecture by Professor Herrnstein" was adopted byt the Univerdity of Iowa Faculty Senate Tuesday.
RIchard J. Herrnstein, a Harvard psychologist, refused to speak last Friday when a hostile crowd packed the lecture room. Members of Students for a Democratic Society had said they would question Herrnstein about his controversial views on intelligence and heredity.
The three part motion adopted by the senate went on to "regret" the lack of "necessary safeguards that would have ensured an orderly meeting."
It also called for an investigation of "the circumstances of the cancelled lecture," so that the senate "may express itself on the issues raised."
Jerry J. Kollros, professor of zoology, introduces the motion which was approved by a vote of 32 to 10.
George W. Forell, professor of religion, objected to the motion, saying that the senate was expressing its view prior to an investigation. He referred to a similar issue last spring (the tear-gassing of Hillcrest by local police) in which the senate defered expressinf itself until its investigation was completed.
William P. Albrecht, associate professor of economics, said that those senator urging swift action on this issue were the same ones who last spring wanted to delay action. He added that those who want delay now argued for immediate action last year.
Forell sought to delete the first two sections of the motion, retaining only the call to investigate the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of the speech.
But Stow S. Persons, professor of history, said the senate "should take this step now to express its outrage." He said he "regrets that no member of the administration has made a firm and forthright statement" on the matter.
The motion's language regretting the lack of safeguards at the lecture barely survived a move to drop it from the resolution.
Robert A. Corrigan, associate professor of English, said the clause blames the administration for the disruption when, in fact, "we as faculty have failed with our students."
The motion should have been directed at the faculty rather than the administration," Corrigan said.
Persons supported the original motion, saying, "We have to do more than provide an individual an opportuniry to be prevented from speaking."
the incident should not have been "allowed" to occur, he said.
After the passage of the motion, Provost Ray L. Heffner addressed the senate. He said the incident was "more regratable, with serioud potential consequences for academic freedom."
Robert E. Engel, assistant to the president, said Tuesday night that he is glad the faculty is concerned about the issue.
"Sometimes the administration feels that it is alone out in left field," when it tries to provide suitable conditions for controversial visitors, Engel said.
"But I am negatively impressed by the senate's lack of appreciation for the administration's efforts," he added.
In other action, the senate amended the proposed hearings procedures for handling cases of faculty incompetence. A provision that counsel be allowed to attend all steps of the disciplinary procedings was added to the document.
The original wording had barred counsel from early informal stages of dismissal procedings in faculty incompetence cases, if either party objected to the presence of counsel'.
The entire hearings proposal will cover faculty grievances, violations of the Regent's Rules of Personal Conduct or of the Statement of Professional Ethics, as well as incompetence.
The presence of counsel requires the consent of both parties to mediation in the already approved sections dealing with violations of ethics and the personal conduct code.
The last part of the proposal, governing faculty grievances, has not yet come before the senate.

Saving...

Faculty calls for investigation of Herrnstein lecture incident By JERRY DEPEW Daily Iowan Staff Writer A motion "deploring the behavior of certain persons" who "prevented the delivery of scholarly lecture by Professor Herrnstein" was adopted byt the Univerdity of Iowa Faculty Senate Tuesday. RIchard J. Herrnstein, a Harvard psychologist, refused to speak last Friday when a hostile crowd packed the lecture room. Members of Students for a Democratic Society had said they would question Herrnstein about his controversial views on intelligence and heredity. The three part motion adopted by the senate went on to "regret" the lack of "necessary safeguards that would have ensured an orderly meeting." It also called for an investigation of "the circumstances of the cancelled lecture," so that the senate "may express itself on the issues raised." Jerry J. Kollros, professor of zoology, introduces the motion which was approved by a vote of 32 to 10. George W. Forell, professor of religion, objected to the motion, saying that the senate was expressing its view prior to an investigation. He referred to a similar issue last spring (the tear-gassing of Hillcrest by local police) in which the senate defered expressinf itself until its investigation was completed. William P. Albrecht, associate professor of economics, said that those senator urging swift action on this issue were the same ones who last spring wanted to delay action. He added that those who want delay now argued for immediate action last year. Forell sought to delete the first two sections of the motion, retaining only the call to investigate the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of the speech. But Stow S. Persons, professor of history, said the senate "should take this step now to express its outrage." He said he "regrets that no member of the administration has made a firm and forthright statement" on the matter. The motion's language regretting the lack of safeguards at the lecture barely survived a move to drop it from the resolution. Robert A. Corrigan, associate professor of English, said the clause blames the administration for the disruption when, in fact, "we as faculty have failed with our students." The motion should have been directed at the faculty rather than the administration," Corrigan said. Persons supported the original motion, saying, "We have to do more than provide an individual an opportuniry to be prevented from speaking." the incident should not have been "allowed" to occur, he said. After the passage of the motion, Provost Ray L. Heffner addressed the senate. He said the incident was "more regratable, with serioud potential consequences for academic freedom." Robert E. Engel, assistant to the president, said Tuesday night that he is glad the faculty is concerned about the issue. "Sometimes the administration feels that it is alone out in left field," when it tries to provide suitable conditions for controversial visitors, Engel said. "But I am negatively impressed by the senate's lack of appreciation for the administration's efforts," he added. In other action, the senate amended the proposed hearings procedures for handling cases of faculty incompetence. A provision that counsel be allowed to attend all steps of the disciplinary procedings was added to the document. The original wording had barred counsel from early informal stages of dismissal procedings in faculty incompetence cases, if either party objected to the presence of counsel'. The entire hearings proposal will cover faculty grievances, violations of the Regent's Rules of Personal Conduct or of the Statement of Professional Ethics, as well as incompetence. The presence of counsel requires the consent of both parties to mediation in the already approved sections dealing with violations of ethics and the personal conduct code. The last part of the proposal, governing faculty grievances, has not yet come before the senate.