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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1965-1967

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[handwritten] 1/5/66

Steve Smith Quits School, Plans on Volunteer Work

By BOB BUCK
Staff Writer

Steve Smith has left the University.
The 21-protest leader from Marion says he has decided to devote his time to problems that he thinks the campus curriculum doesn't really deal with.
   Smith, who burned what he said was his draft card at a Soapbox Soundoff Oct. 20 in the Union, went on trial in federal court in Des Moines last week. He is accused of knowingly destroying his draft card. Lawyers in the case have until Jan. 15 to file briefs. 
   In an interview a few days after he had canceled his student registration, Smith said that some persons might think he had let them down by leaving school.
   "HOW TRUE THIS is I'm not sure," he said. "I feel that I haven't, that there are many ways of working and getting things done, and that it depends upon your major interest at the time."
   Behidn Smith's interests lies what he says he believes is one of the main causes for the world's problems.
   "The problems of the world, from the United Nations to the race issue," he said, "are handled in a non-realistic fashion - over-examined in a way."
   Smith said that he thought persons spent too much time talking about problems without experiencing what was happening. 
   "THE CAMPUS doesn't really deal with the problems of society as far as curriculum is concerned," he said. "There have been a lot of movements to end the war and to aid civil rights, but any attempt has been largely extracurricular."
   Did Smith think that the role of the University was to involve itself with social issues in the curriculum? 
   "From the point of objectivity, the University has to remain somewhat removed from society," he answered. "But if it doesn't  deal with the function of society, then its function is not education, it's training.
   Classrooms have become too formal, Smith said. He suggested that many undergraduate courses be structured along the lines of a symposium. 
   As an activist, rather than a pacifist, Smith said he would agree to spent any jail sentence he receive, rebuilding the war-torn villages of Viet Nam.
   MUCH OF HIS feelings about Viet Nam he said he obtained from Mississippi. Smith sees both of these regions as suffering from the same evil suppression. 
   Middle-class Americans cannot understand the problems, Smith said, because they have been isolated from them since youth.
   "There's no real contact with any real cases of extreme poverty, or real experience with violence, such as that which exist in the South... where people are beaten up for the color of their skins, as they are in Viet Nam, and can't understand why."
   As a student of protest movements Smith says, “The whole reasoning behind anti-communism, and revolutions, I can’t swallow. But a lot of students can. I don’t see revolutions being started by Communists. People are being suppressed and denied their right to enough food and proper housing.”
   SMITH SEES his future as somewhat limited to “working with volunteer organizations instead of getting an office job

[photo]
STEVE SMITH
Leaves University

  “I don’t want to align myself with any one group,” he said. “I’ve never been much of a joiner. I feel groups perpetuate themselves rather than their ideas. If it comes down to the group surviving or its purpose, the group takes precedence.”
   Smith has, however, participated in the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the Friends of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
   One cautious look Smith is taking is at the effort SDS is making towards getting information out to its members.
   “PERHAPS THEY’RE not ready to protest,” he said, “but at least they’re not apathetic, which most of the campus is.”
   Smith said he felt a kind of frustration sitting in meetings.
   “Some people are concerned with the war,” he admitted, “but they’ve got this feeling of insecurity which can hurt an organization. They’ve regarded their ideas so much that they’re afraid to see them smashed.
   “It’s not a matter of whether it’s a good idea or not. If it’s good enough, you try it until it works. You don’t sit around and talk about an idea until it seems beautiful. You go out and work on your idea and see that it succeeds. There’s no sense and people sitting around and drawing up ideals and not doing anything about it.”
   HAVING LOST his job as a result of the publicity surrounding his draft card burning, Smith says he is striking out with no financial support, only moral support.
   “I always feel there will be people who feel as I do,” he said confidentally. “It’s kind of a comfortable insecurity -- you feel that what you’re doing has to be done that many people feel the same way.
“If anything is going to be done to change situations that exist then there will have to be some who are willing to accept insecurity.”
   TO KEEP OTHERS informed of his views and the methods he advocates, is presently arranging a series of speaking engagements with the assistance of SDS.
   Smith said he was not leaving the campus that had helped spawn his ideas, but would stay “as long as I’m serving a purpose.”

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[handwritten] 1/5/66 Steve Smith Quits School, Plans on Volunteer Work By BOB BUCK Staff Writer Steve Smith has left the University. The 21-protest leader from Marion says he has decided to devote his time to problems that he thinks the campus curriculum doesn't really deal with. Smith, who burned what he said was his draft card at a Soapbox Soundoff Oct. 20 in the Union, went on trial in federal court in Des Moines last week. He is accused of knowingly destroying his draft card. Lawyers in the case have until Jan. 15 to file briefs. In an interview a few days after he had canceled his student registration, Smith said that some persons might think he had let them down by leaving school. "HOW TRUE THIS is I'm not sure," he said. "I feel that I haven't, that there are many ways of working and getting things done, and that it depends upon your major interest at the time." Behidn Smith's interests lies what he says he believes is one of the main causes for the world's problems. "The problems of the world, from the United Nations to the race issue," he said, "are handled in a non-realistic fashion - over-examined in a way." Smith said that he thought persons spent too much time talking about problems without experiencing what was happening. "THE CAMPUS doesn't really deal with the problems of society as far as curriculum is concerned," he said. "There have been a lot of movements to end the war and to aid civil rights, but any attempt has been largely extracurricular." Did Smith think that the role of the University was to involve itself with social issues in the curriculum? "From the point of objectivity, the University has to remain somewhat removed from society," he answered. "But if it doesn't deal with the function of society, then its function is not education, it's training. Classrooms have become too formal, Smith said. He suggested that many undergraduate courses be structured along the lines of a symposium. As an activist, rather than a pacifist, Smith said he would agree to spent any jail sentence he receive, rebuilding the war-torn villages of Viet Nam. MUCH OF HIS feelings about Viet Nam he said he obtained from Mississippi. Smith sees both of these regions as suffering from the same evil suppression. Middle-class Americans cannot understand the problems, Smith said, because they have been isolated from them since youth. "There's no real contact with any real cases of extreme poverty, or real experience with violence, such as that which exist in the South... where people are beaten up for the color of their skins, as they are in Viet Nam, and can't understand why." As a student of protest movements Smith says, “The whole reasoning behind anti-communism, and revolutions, I can’t swallow. But a lot of students can. I don’t see revolutions being started by Communists. People are being suppressed and denied their right to enough food and proper housing.” SMITH SEES his future as somewhat limited to “working with volunteer organizations instead of getting an office job [photo] STEVE SMITH Leaves University “I don’t want to align myself with any one group,” he said. “I’ve never been much of a joiner. I feel groups perpetuate themselves rather than their ideas. If it comes down to the group surviving or its purpose, the group takes precedence.” Smith has, however, participated in the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the Friends of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). One cautious look Smith is taking is at the effort SDS is making towards getting information out to its members. “PERHAPS THEY’RE not ready to protest,” he said, “but at least they’re not apathetic, which most of the campus is.” Smith said he felt a kind of frustration sitting in meetings. “Some people are concerned with the war,” he admitted, “but they’ve got this feeling of insecurity which can hurt an organization. They’ve regarded their ideas so much that they’re afraid to see them smashed. “It’s not a matter of whether it’s a good idea or not. If it’s good enough, you try it until it works. You don’t sit around and talk about an idea until it seems beautiful. You go out and work on your idea and see that it succeeds. There’s no sense and people sitting around and drawing up ideals and not doing anything about it.” HAVING LOST his job as a result of the publicity surrounding his draft card burning, Smith says he is striking out with no financial support, only moral support. “I always feel there will be people who feel as I do,” he said confidentally. “It’s kind of a comfortable insecurity -- you feel that what you’re doing has to be done that many people feel the same way. “If anything is going to be done to change situations that exist then there will have to be some who are willing to accept insecurity.” TO KEEP OTHERS informed of his views and the methods he advocates, is presently arranging a series of speaking engagements with the assistance of SDS. Smith said he was not leaving the campus that had helped spawn his ideas, but would stay “as long as I’m serving a purpose.”