DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Students for a Democratic Society, Herrnstein lecture, February-June, 1972 | 1972-02-26 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: 'Herrstein Sidesteps Confrontation, Cancels Talk' Page 1

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

1972-02-26 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: 'Herrstein Sidesteps Confrontation, Cancels Talk' Page 1

-National SDS Leaders Claim 'Victory'-
Herrnstein Sidesteps Confrontation, Cancels Talk
By WILLIAM G. HLADKY Of the Press-Citizen

   What was scheduled early last fall as a routine academic lecture by a visiting professor ended Friday afternoon as an unofficial national Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) rally and cancellation of the lecture. 
   Harvard psychology professor Richard Herrnstein, who came to Iowa to speak on p i g e o n training, was attacked by the SDS on an article he wrote for the September issue of "Atlantic Monthly."
   In that article, Herrnstein suggested the theory that IQ is transmitted by heredity and society forces people of low intelligence into the lower class while intelligent people are in the upper class. 
   At about 4:45 p.m., 15 minutes after the lecture was scheduled to start, Rudolph Schulz, chairman of the Psychology Department told the 400 people crammed into the lecture hall at the Physics Research Center: 
   "I regretfully announce he (Herrnstein) does not feel he is able to speak before this audience. With further regret, I feel I must adjourn this meeting and I hope you will leave."
   SDS had put up signs around the lecture hall and individual SDS supporters took turns talking to the crowd. 
   "Those of us in SDS are protesting what he is saying about the present. What Herrnstein is saying is high unemployment is due to genetic differences," one said. 
   "So?" a voice from the crowd rang out. 
   "We are not here on a lark. We are not here for fun. We are here to confront this man. I think he is scared to come out," another said in a rapid fire manner which seemed typical of the protesters. 'I'm not so concerned about your freedom to speak as my freedoms to hear" another person in the audience shouted. From the chanting inside the lecture hall, about one-third of the crowd seemed to support the protest. About 15 minutes before the lecture, campus security closed the doors to anybody else. About 200 people gathered outside the hall. 
Campus security and plain-clothed city policemen were stationed throughout both groups inside and outside the lecture hall. Acting Chief John J. Rupert said he had held over the day shift a few hours in case they were needed. He stressed the measure was just precautionary. 
Also at the lecture hall were Vice Provost Philip G. Hubbard and Robert E. Engel, assistant to UI President Willard L. Boyd. 
Hubbard said the university administration had at no time before the protest thought of cancelling the lecture. He said, "We had at one time thought of moving to a larger auditorium." He said Herrnstein made the decision not to speak. 
Schulz said Herrnstein at no time was planning to discuss his "Atlantic Monthly" article. "He was going to speak on a high technical level," (about pigeons).
Herrnstein left Iowa City a few hours after the protest Friday, university officials said. 
About a dozen visiting college professors and students had come to Iowa city to listen to him. 
About 30 to 40 SDS members traveled to Iowa City from Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis and Detroit. The SDS national newspaper announced the Iowa City lecture and urged members to attend.
SDS national chairwoman Marty Riefe, of Washington, D.C., said: We weren't out there to keep him from speaking. That is a myth created by the press. Sure we wanted him to talk so we could rip him to pieces." 
Jeff Singleton, SDS national interorganizational secretary, of Chicago, said the protest was a success when it "proved" Herrnstein could not defend his ideas. 
The SDS also is campaigning against Edward Banfield, a sociology professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Daniel Moynihan, former Urban Affairs Council chairman under President Richard Nixon. The SDS claimed these two men also are advocating the heredity theory. 
The SDS is planning to hold workshops throughout today on Herrnstein and the upcoming SDS national convention. 

    ★★★                         ★★★
Civil Libertarians: SDS 'Trampled on Rights'
The Hawkeye Chapter of the Iowa Civic Liberties Union announced this morning that it "vigorously differs" with the Student for a Democratic Society's claim that Prof. Richard Herrnstein's cancellation was a "big success."
Speaking for the Hawkeye Chapter, Hanna B. Weston said "While they (SDS) may have succeeded in their goal, their success is the success of the very repressive and dangerous tactics which they decry."
Mrs. Weston said: "The right to speak is a right assured for everyone, not just with those whom we agree. In forcing Mr. Herrnstein into cancelling his talks, the SDS not only trampled on his right but on those who wish to hear him. The liberties we hold dear will not long survive the use of such tactics."

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-National SDS Leaders Claim 'Victory'- Herrnstein Sidesteps Confrontation, Cancels Talk By WILLIAM G. HLADKY Of the Press-Citizen What was scheduled early last fall as a routine academic lecture by a visiting professor ended Friday afternoon as an unofficial national Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) rally and cancellation of the lecture. Harvard psychology professor Richard Herrnstein, who came to Iowa to speak on p i g e o n training, was attacked by the SDS on an article he wrote for the September issue of "Atlantic Monthly." In that article, Herrnstein suggested the theory that IQ is transmitted by heredity and society forces people of low intelligence into the lower class while intelligent people are in the upper class. At about 4:45 p.m., 15 minutes after the lecture was scheduled to start, Rudolph Schulz, chairman of the Psychology Department told the 400 people crammed into the lecture hall at the Physics Research Center: "I regretfully announce he (Herrnstein) does not feel he is able to speak before this audience. With further regret, I feel I must adjourn this meeting and I hope you will leave." SDS had put up signs around the lecture hall and individual SDS supporters took turns talking to the crowd. "Those of us in SDS are protesting what he is saying about the present. What Herrnstein is saying is high unemployment is due to genetic differences," one said. "So?" a voice from the crowd rang out. "We are not here on a lark. We are not here for fun. We are here to confront this man. I think he is scared to come out," another said in a rapid fire manner which seemed typical of the protesters. 'I'm not so concerned about your freedom to speak as my freedoms to hear" another person in the audience shouted. From the chanting inside the lecture hall, about one-third of the crowd seemed to support the protest. About 15 minutes before the lecture, campus security closed the doors to anybody else. About 200 people gathered outside the hall. Campus security and plain-clothed city policemen were stationed throughout both groups inside and outside the lecture hall. Acting Chief John J. Rupert said he had held over the day shift a few hours in case they were needed. He stressed the measure was just precautionary. Also at the lecture hall were Vice Provost Philip G. Hubbard and Robert E. Engel, assistant to UI President Willard L. Boyd. Hubbard said the university administration had at no time before the protest thought of cancelling the lecture. He said, "We had at one time thought of moving to a larger auditorium." He said Herrnstein made the decision not to speak. Schulz said Herrnstein at no time was planning to discuss his "Atlantic Monthly" article. "He was going to speak on a high technical level," (about pigeons). Herrnstein left Iowa City a few hours after the protest Friday, university officials said. About a dozen visiting college professors and students had come to Iowa city to listen to him. About 30 to 40 SDS members traveled to Iowa City from Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis and Detroit. The SDS national newspaper announced the Iowa City lecture and urged members to attend. SDS national chairwoman Marty Riefe, of Washington, D.C., said: We weren't out there to keep him from speaking. That is a myth created by the press. Sure we wanted him to talk so we could rip him to pieces." Jeff Singleton, SDS national interorganizational secretary, of Chicago, said the protest was a success when it "proved" Herrnstein could not defend his ideas. The SDS also is campaigning against Edward Banfield, a sociology professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Daniel Moynihan, former Urban Affairs Council chairman under President Richard Nixon. The SDS claimed these two men also are advocating the heredity theory. The SDS is planning to hold workshops throughout today on Herrnstein and the upcoming SDS national convention. ★★★ ★★★ Civil Libertarians: SDS 'Trampled on Rights' The Hawkeye Chapter of the Iowa Civic Liberties Union announced this morning that it "vigorously differs" with the Student for a Democratic Society's claim that Prof. Richard Herrnstein's cancellation was a "big success." Speaking for the Hawkeye Chapter, Hanna B. Weston said "While they (SDS) may have succeeded in their goal, their success is the success of the very repressive and dangerous tactics which they decry." Mrs. Weston said: "The right to speak is a right assured for everyone, not just with those whom we agree. In forcing Mr. Herrnstein into cancelling his talks, the SDS not only trampled on his right but on those who wish to hear him. The liberties we hold dear will not long survive the use of such tactics."