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

1972-02-20 Des Moines Register Article: 'Free Speech An Issue In U of I Talk?' Page 1

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DMSR 2/20/72 1 (OF 2) FREE SPEECH AN ISSUE IN U OF I TALK? 'Radicals' Oppose Harvard Prof By Larry Eckholt (Register Staff Writter) IOWA CITY, IA. - A debate over the question of academic freedom is taking place in the University of Iowa (U of I) campus prior to a visit by a controversial Harvard psychology professor scheduled to speak in Iowa City Friday. But this debate has a new twist. Campus Radicals The same campus radicals who in the past espoused free speech and controversial speakers as just causes are those attacking the Harvard professor's ideas and his right to say what he thinks. The center of the controversy is Prof. Richard J. Herrnstein, 41, author of an article on a theory of intelligence which appeared in the September issue of the Atlantic Monthly magazine. Since the article appeared, Herrnstein has been pecketed, jeered, labeled a racist and a sexist and generally harassed wherever he goes - primarily by members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), although some of his peers have joined the attack. In Iowa City, a small but active group called the Worker-Student Alliance (which was formed shortly after U of I sanction of the local SDS chapter was lifted last year) has scheduled several events to coincide with Herrnstein's Iowa City visit. A "teach-in against racist ideology" is scheduled Monsay night. A rally, march and demonstration against Herrnstein is set for Friday, according to leaflets being circulated in campus last week. Finally, a "Midwest conference on racism" is being promoted for next Saturday. Its organizers say the parley will draw persons from Chicago, Ill., Minneapolis, Minn., St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo., and "all over Iowa." Noted anthropologist Margaret Mead was in Iowa City last week and expressed some concern about the leftist attacks on Herrnstein. "Some Courtesy" "I hope he is treated with some measure of courtesy here," Dr. Mead said. "He's been accused of being a racist and a sexist and this is outrageous. He's been treated abominably at Harvard." Herrnstein will be a guest at, the U of I department of psychology, speaking on "Choice as Behaviour and Vice Versa," a VISIT - Please turn to page Eight
 
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