DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Student protests, 1972-1973 | 1973-04-30 Des Moines Register Article: ""It's Spring in Iowa City: Sit-In Held at Old Capitol""

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Student protests, 1972-1973

1973-04-30 Des Moines Register Article: ""It's Spring in Iowa City: Sit-In Held at Old Capitol""

It's Spring in Iowa City: Sit-In Held at Old Capitol
By Larry Eckholt
(Register Staff Writer)
IOWA CITY, IA - Spring officially arrived in Iowa City Saturday night, even though the temperature was crispy cool and, technically, the season had arrived several weeks earlier.
The place: the University of Iowa Pentacrest. The event: a so-called "smoke-in" sponsored by the local chapter of the Youth International Party - the Yippies - where people were urged to smoke marijuana (pot) in open defiance of the law.
"Deja Vu"
As the cast of characters assembled, a state of "deja vu" struck many - that feeling one gets when he thinks he's already experienced what is happening before his eyes. In this case, at least a dozen times before.
Fortunately, what did take place could be best described as a parody of the kind of disturbances which have shaken this community in previous springs.
At 8 p.m., almost like someone had been given a stage cue, everyone took his place on that familiar grassy spot in front of the east steps of Old Capitol - scene of more theater of the absurd events than many avant-garde stages.
A corps of newsmen huddled under a favorite budding elm tree. Campus security officers patrolled the area on foot in twos and threes while marked Iowa City police cars, unmarked cruisers and Iowa Highway Patrol cars circled the downtown streets. Nearly every top U of I Administrator was there, dressed casually for the occasion. A new crop of U of I student government leaders was there, standing on the sidelines.
A few mothers and fathers - leftovers from Mothers' Weekend festivities here - stood on the perimeter of the Pentacrest, watching curiously. Some of the moms still wore daisy corsages given them by doting children earlier in the day.
Children Present
A lot of high school and junior high school aged children were on hand, too. 
The would-be pot smokers sat on the Old Capitol steps taunting officials with threats of "stoking it" but puffing only on plain cigarettes Meanwhile, the crowd of onlookers steadily grew until it reached an estimated 300 at its height.
Campus officials decided to move the potential pot smokers
YIPPIES-
Please turn to Page Three

Reefer Man's Antics Add Comic Touch to Pot Drama
YIPPIES---
Continued from Page One
off the steps. The step-sitters then mingled with the onlookers, aimlessly milling about the Pentacrest until the arrival of Reefer Man" and his girlfriend.
"Reefer Man" was dressed in red tights. His shirt had a big "R" on the front. He carried a purse and a broken yellow umbrella. (It threatened to rain all evening but never did, to the dismay of U of I officials.)
"Reefer Man's" friend was dressed in a band uniform. The two skipped on the steps and were joined by the 50 or so who were putting on the show. 
Security officers formed a semicircle in front of these people and the crowd of onlookers packed in tight behind them. The opening in the middle provided a kind of arena stage for the piece of improvisational theater which ensued.
First Act: Someone throws a lighted "joint" in the middle of the stage. Somebody comes forward, bends over the smoking substances, inhales deeply, and squeals in delight.
More reefers are tossed out. More taunts. Soon people pick the joints up and smoke. Experts on the scene said the smell of the smoke was definitely that of marijuana.
A few bottles of swept "pop" wine are uncapped and passed around.
Second Act: The authorities decide to make arrests. The crowd gets more antagonistic as individuals get busted. Some get away. One gets taken over to campus security headquarters about a block to the north; the jeering crowd follows.
Crowd mills around the street in front of campus security building, but no incidents. About 20 minutes later, someone shouts that it's time to move on. Return to the Pentacrest.
Third Act: New characters. A campus religious group has started a song fest on the Pentacrest. As interest in the smoke-in evaporates, many people join the singers in renditions of "When the Saints Go Marching In," "Do Lord," and folk song favorites of the late '50s and early '60s.
End of production.
"This was the social event of the season," deadpanned David Kragstow, a sophomore from Indianola, an onlooker.
For some, it was no joke.
Arrested and charged by campus security officers were Steve R. Beek, 21, a u of I student, with resisting execution of due process; William H. Brown, 19 a u of I student. resisting execution of due process; Thomas E. Parmer, 20, a U of I student, possession of marijuana; Richard E. McCullough, 19, a U of I student, assault; Aaron C. Smith, 21, of Iowa City, possession of marijuana, and Timothy Hall, 21, a U of I student; criminal trespass and promoting a gathering where controlled substances are unlawfully used.
Campus security officers also arrested one juvenile.
Iowa City police arrested and charged two persons with possession of marijuana. They are Greg Ule, no address given, and Donna R. Evenhouse, a U of I student.
Greg A. Laws of Des Moines was arrested for intoxication and David A. Lee, no address given, was arrested for resisting and officer and public drinking.
The arrests produced the only quasi-political chant of the evening. While walking from the campus security building on the Pentacrest, someone said: "Free the POWs. Free the Prisoners of Weed."

Saving...

It's Spring in Iowa City: Sit-In Held at Old Capitol By Larry Eckholt (Register Staff Writer) IOWA CITY, IA - Spring officially arrived in Iowa City Saturday night, even though the temperature was crispy cool and, technically, the season had arrived several weeks earlier. The place: the University of Iowa Pentacrest. The event: a so-called "smoke-in" sponsored by the local chapter of the Youth International Party - the Yippies - where people were urged to smoke marijuana (pot) in open defiance of the law. "Deja Vu" As the cast of characters assembled, a state of "deja vu" struck many - that feeling one gets when he thinks he's already experienced what is happening before his eyes. In this case, at least a dozen times before. Fortunately, what did take place could be best described as a parody of the kind of disturbances which have shaken this community in previous springs. At 8 p.m., almost like someone had been given a stage cue, everyone took his place on that familiar grassy spot in front of the east steps of Old Capitol - scene of more theater of the absurd events than many avant-garde stages. A corps of newsmen huddled under a favorite budding elm tree. Campus security officers patrolled the area on foot in twos and threes while marked Iowa City police cars, unmarked cruisers and Iowa Highway Patrol cars circled the downtown streets. Nearly every top U of I Administrator was there, dressed casually for the occasion. A new crop of U of I student government leaders was there, standing on the sidelines. A few mothers and fathers - leftovers from Mothers' Weekend festivities here - stood on the perimeter of the Pentacrest, watching curiously. Some of the moms still wore daisy corsages given them by doting children earlier in the day. Children Present A lot of high school and junior high school aged children were on hand, too. The would-be pot smokers sat on the Old Capitol steps taunting officials with threats of "stoking it" but puffing only on plain cigarettes Meanwhile, the crowd of onlookers steadily grew until it reached an estimated 300 at its height. Campus officials decided to move the potential pot smokers YIPPIES- Please turn to Page Three Reefer Man's Antics Add Comic Touch to Pot Drama YIPPIES--- Continued from Page One off the steps. The step-sitters then mingled with the onlookers, aimlessly milling about the Pentacrest until the arrival of Reefer Man" and his girlfriend. "Reefer Man" was dressed in red tights. His shirt had a big "R" on the front. He carried a purse and a broken yellow umbrella. (It threatened to rain all evening but never did, to the dismay of U of I officials.) "Reefer Man's" friend was dressed in a band uniform. The two skipped on the steps and were joined by the 50 or so who were putting on the show. Security officers formed a semicircle in front of these people and the crowd of onlookers packed in tight behind them. The opening in the middle provided a kind of arena stage for the piece of improvisational theater which ensued. First Act: Someone throws a lighted "joint" in the middle of the stage. Somebody comes forward, bends over the smoking substances, inhales deeply, and squeals in delight. More reefers are tossed out. More taunts. Soon people pick the joints up and smoke. Experts on the scene said the smell of the smoke was definitely that of marijuana. A few bottles of swept "pop" wine are uncapped and passed around. Second Act: The authorities decide to make arrests. The crowd gets more antagonistic as individuals get busted. Some get away. One gets taken over to campus security headquarters about a block to the north; the jeering crowd follows. Crowd mills around the street in front of campus security building, but no incidents. About 20 minutes later, someone shouts that it's time to move on. Return to the Pentacrest. Third Act: New characters. A campus religious group has started a song fest on the Pentacrest. As interest in the smoke-in evaporates, many people join the singers in renditions of "When the Saints Go Marching In," "Do Lord," and folk song favorites of the late '50s and early '60s. End of production. "This was the social event of the season," deadpanned David Kragstow, a sophomore from Indianola, an onlooker. For some, it was no joke. Arrested and charged by campus security officers were Steve R. Beek, 21, a u of I student, with resisting execution of due process; William H. Brown, 19 a u of I student. resisting execution of due process; Thomas E. Parmer, 20, a U of I student, possession of marijuana; Richard E. McCullough, 19, a U of I student, assault; Aaron C. Smith, 21, of Iowa City, possession of marijuana, and Timothy Hall, 21, a U of I student; criminal trespass and promoting a gathering where controlled substances are unlawfully used. Campus security officers also arrested one juvenile. Iowa City police arrested and charged two persons with possession of marijuana. They are Greg Ule, no address given, and Donna R. Evenhouse, a U of I student. Greg A. Laws of Des Moines was arrested for intoxication and David A. Lee, no address given, was arrested for resisting and officer and public drinking. The arrests produced the only quasi-political chant of the evening. While walking from the campus security building on the Pentacrest, someone said: "Free the POWs. Free the Prisoners of Weed."