DIY History | Transcribe | Social Justice | Student protests, 1972-1973 | 1972-05-01 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Lone Picket Leaflets UI's Computer Center"" 1972-06-01 ""Coed Fined In Burning of Flag""

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Student protests, 1972-1973

1972-05-01 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Lone Picket Leaflets UI's Computer Center"" 1972-06-01 ""Coed Fined In Burning of Flag""

P-C 6/1/72

Monday May 1, 1972

Lone Picket Leaflets UI's Computer Center

A lone picket passing out leaflets in front of  the University of Iowa Computer Center at Linn and Jefferson Streets typified the weekend's anti war protests. 
A "people's picnic" at College Hill Park Sunday afternoon attracted only about 20 people. Poor weather also had an effect in postponing a three day vigil at the computer center supposedly beginning sundown Sunday. But the first signs of any protest at the center came at 8 a.m. today with the lone picket. 
Even with the absence of any protest, campus security had several officers at the center Sunday night and this morning as "precautionary" measure William Binney, director, said. Although Binney refused to confirm this, there were at least three officers at the center Sunday night and one this morning. 
About 300 young people gathered at the corner of Dubuque and Harrison Streets Sunday afternoon to listen to several rock bands. Although the "block party" was not an officially organized anti war activity, a red flag of protest flew above the bands. The party was cut short Sunday evening because of rain. 
Don R. Hecker, the lone picket this morning said that his action was an "informational" protest. He also pointed out that the informational protest, which is scheduled to continue all day, is separately organized from the three day vigil that was called for Friday. The Committee to End Computerized Death organized today's picketing. 
The picketing is to protest the Rock Island Army Weapons Arsenal's use of the center, According to John H. Esbin assistant director of the center, the arsenal spends about $300,000 for computer time and related services. He stressed that the center does no programming for the army or studies. All the center does is sell computer time, he said. 
Esbin said that the work the army does on the computer is all un-classified and most of it is "basic research." Besides the weapons division, which comprises 70 per cent of the army computer time, the Army Corp of Engineers and other non weapons army groups use the computer. 
With a growing army demand for computer time, Esbin said the university has decided to end its services to the army in July 1973. The protesting committee wants the University to end the computer services this June, when the present contract with the army expires .
The committee also claimed that several of the army's computer projects are weapons oriented. It claimed the arsenal last year ran a program concerning the development of a gun sight and the evaluation of methods of cooling machine gun barrels. 
The committee will meet 7:30 p.m. today at Center East to organize further protests.

P-C 6/1/72

Coed Fined In Burning Of Flag
Patricia M. Farrell, 21, has been fined $50 in Johnson County District Court, on a charge of desecration of the flag. 
The decision was handed down today by Judge Louis W. Schultz on an appeal from Iowa City Police Court. 
Miss Farrell, who listed herself as a University of Iowa student living at Currier Hall, was arrested at the Quadrangle Feb 11, 1971. The charge came as an outgrowth of an antiwar demonstration on the UI campus. 
She pleaded innocent to the charge, but was found guilty by Judge Joseph Thornton March 19, 1971, in Iowa City Police Court. She resisted the charge in District Court, in an appeal that it violated her Constitutional rights. 
Judge Schultz ruled that the charge "did not impinge on a citizen's right to protest" and that the action did not "prevent or curtail free speech."
He said the flag was burned to stir and excite emotions in what was not a peaceful gathering, and that the action by police was necessary "to protect the national symbol."

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P-C 6/1/72 Monday May 1, 1972 Lone Picket Leaflets UI's Computer Center A lone picket passing out leaflets in front of the University of Iowa Computer Center at Linn and Jefferson Streets typified the weekend's anti war protests. A "people's picnic" at College Hill Park Sunday afternoon attracted only about 20 people. Poor weather also had an effect in postponing a three day vigil at the computer center supposedly beginning sundown Sunday. But the first signs of any protest at the center came at 8 a.m. today with the lone picket. Even with the absence of any protest, campus security had several officers at the center Sunday night and this morning as "precautionary" measure William Binney, director, said. Although Binney refused to confirm this, there were at least three officers at the center Sunday night and one this morning. About 300 young people gathered at the corner of Dubuque and Harrison Streets Sunday afternoon to listen to several rock bands. Although the "block party" was not an officially organized anti war activity, a red flag of protest flew above the bands. The party was cut short Sunday evening because of rain. Don R. Hecker, the lone picket this morning said that his action was an "informational" protest. He also pointed out that the informational protest, which is scheduled to continue all day, is separately organized from the three day vigil that was called for Friday. The Committee to End Computerized Death organized today's picketing. The picketing is to protest the Rock Island Army Weapons Arsenal's use of the center, According to John H. Esbin assistant director of the center, the arsenal spends about $300,000 for computer time and related services. He stressed that the center does no programming for the army or studies. All the center does is sell computer time, he said. Esbin said that the work the army does on the computer is all un-classified and most of it is "basic research." Besides the weapons division, which comprises 70 per cent of the army computer time, the Army Corp of Engineers and other non weapons army groups use the computer. With a growing army demand for computer time, Esbin said the university has decided to end its services to the army in July 1973. The protesting committee wants the University to end the computer services this June, when the present contract with the army expires . The committee also claimed that several of the army's computer projects are weapons oriented. It claimed the arsenal last year ran a program concerning the development of a gun sight and the evaluation of methods of cooling machine gun barrels. The committee will meet 7:30 p.m. today at Center East to organize further protests. P-C 6/1/72 Coed Fined In Burning Of Flag Patricia M. Farrell, 21, has been fined $50 in Johnson County District Court, on a charge of desecration of the flag. The decision was handed down today by Judge Louis W. Schultz on an appeal from Iowa City Police Court. Miss Farrell, who listed herself as a University of Iowa student living at Currier Hall, was arrested at the Quadrangle Feb 11, 1971. The charge came as an outgrowth of an antiwar demonstration on the UI campus. She pleaded innocent to the charge, but was found guilty by Judge Joseph Thornton March 19, 1971, in Iowa City Police Court. She resisted the charge in District Court, in an appeal that it violated her Constitutional rights. Judge Schultz ruled that the charge "did not impinge on a citizen's right to protest" and that the action did not "prevent or curtail free speech." He said the flag was burned to stir and excite emotions in what was not a peaceful gathering, and that the action by police was necessary "to protect the national symbol."