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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1965-1967
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[handwritten] DMSR Nov. 5, 1967 Radicalism at U. of I. Cools in Face of Expulsion by James Flansburg (Register Staff Writer) IOWA CITY, IA - Demonstrators arrested in last week's anti-Marine recruiting fracas at the University of Iowa face a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail or a $100 fine. But it is likely they will be allowed to forfeit their bonds and not show up in court. " That has been my policy" said Iowa City Police Judge Marion Neely," but I'd rather not make any comment until the cases come up in court. " My intention is to handle these in the usual manner, and I'll make a determination then." One hundred eight persons - most of them university students - were arrested Wednesday when, they refused to stop blocking the door of the Iowa Memorial Union here in an attempt to prevent other students from seeing a Marine recruiter. All but one of those arrested were charged with disturbing the peace and were released on bonds of $25 each. The one was charged with failing to obey an officer and was released on $50 bond. In a case such as this, the judge has the option of forfeiting a person's bond and closing the case if the person does not appear, or forfeiting the bond and ordering the person arrested and brought before the court to plead and stand trial. Wednesday's fracas turned into a brawl as demonstrators were attacked by about 200 counter-demonstrators - all of whom faded into the woodwork when Iowa City police, backed by 100 east Iowa lawmen showed up and hauled the demonstrators away. The Marine recruiters remained on campus Thursday and Friday but the demonstrators, chastened by the idea of being kicked out of school and losing their draft deferments, never again came near violating the law or doing anything without university permission. All of which may say something about the degree of radicalism at the University of Iowa. Without ever coming right out and saying so, university officials had made it clear to the protesters that dismissal was already possible and that another incident would make it probable. So Thursday was a day of picketing and a night of talking. The demonstrators couldn't decide Thursday night what to get together to do for Friday so they did bunch of things - all to symbolize their distaste for the Vietnam involvement. They spilled some blood on the steps of the union, and they signed a petition in blood ("Anyone who can't bear to prick his own finger can use the blood in this bottle donated by someone else") and they played a skit, which, mercifully for the lovers of drama at least was drowned out by the jeers of 1,000 to 1,200 onlookers. Police Arrive There is always an air of unreality about Iowa City. It was never more so than last week. To begin with, the largest crowd of the week totaled about 1,500 - substantially less than 10 per cent of the enrollment of 18,500 - and all but a handful of them were onlookers, who cheered when the police arrived Wednesday. The doors of the union were locked Wednesday and during the five-hour confrontation between the demonstrators and the counter-demonstrators STUDENTS - Continued on Page Eight STUDENTS-- Continued from Page One restrooms became a critical problem. One demonstrator was gone when the police arrived and made the arrests and put the 108 on buses and took them to jail. " I missed the bus," he told Iowa City City Manager Frank Smiley. " Can I still be arrested?" " We both missed the bus," said Smiley, who was hunting a ride to his office across town. At the police station, the 108 were put in the big city garage. The first question put to them: " Who is going to pick up the Starbuck children at school?" George Starbuck, the new head of the university's Writer's Workshop, and his wife had been with the protesters "because a faculty member ought to be there." The garage was stuffy. "We'll open this door for ventilation if you'll promise not to leave" said City Manager Smiley. They promised. Friday, with the university's promise of disciplinary action dominant, the protesters collected in a courtyard at the union. They may not realize it, but as protesters they do first class: The Union staff had provided tables for them and had carried out a microphone and loud-speakers for their use. In a hallway Friday, one of Wednesday's counter-demonstrators, Terry Branstad of Leland, encountered a demonstrator, Kathy Chimera of San [handwritten] p.2(of 5)
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[handwritten] DMSR Nov. 5, 1967 Radicalism at U. of I. Cools in Face of Expulsion by James Flansburg (Register Staff Writer) IOWA CITY, IA - Demonstrators arrested in last week's anti-Marine recruiting fracas at the University of Iowa face a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail or a $100 fine. But it is likely they will be allowed to forfeit their bonds and not show up in court. " That has been my policy" said Iowa City Police Judge Marion Neely," but I'd rather not make any comment until the cases come up in court. " My intention is to handle these in the usual manner, and I'll make a determination then." One hundred eight persons - most of them university students - were arrested Wednesday when, they refused to stop blocking the door of the Iowa Memorial Union here in an attempt to prevent other students from seeing a Marine recruiter. All but one of those arrested were charged with disturbing the peace and were released on bonds of $25 each. The one was charged with failing to obey an officer and was released on $50 bond. In a case such as this, the judge has the option of forfeiting a person's bond and closing the case if the person does not appear, or forfeiting the bond and ordering the person arrested and brought before the court to plead and stand trial. Wednesday's fracas turned into a brawl as demonstrators were attacked by about 200 counter-demonstrators - all of whom faded into the woodwork when Iowa City police, backed by 100 east Iowa lawmen showed up and hauled the demonstrators away. The Marine recruiters remained on campus Thursday and Friday but the demonstrators, chastened by the idea of being kicked out of school and losing their draft deferments, never again came near violating the law or doing anything without university permission. All of which may say something about the degree of radicalism at the University of Iowa. Without ever coming right out and saying so, university officials had made it clear to the protesters that dismissal was already possible and that another incident would make it probable. So Thursday was a day of picketing and a night of talking. The demonstrators couldn't decide Thursday night what to get together to do for Friday so they did bunch of things - all to symbolize their distaste for the Vietnam involvement. They spilled some blood on the steps of the union, and they signed a petition in blood ("Anyone who can't bear to prick his own finger can use the blood in this bottle donated by someone else") and they played a skit, which, mercifully for the lovers of drama at least was drowned out by the jeers of 1,000 to 1,200 onlookers. Police Arrive There is always an air of unreality about Iowa City. It was never more so than last week. To begin with, the largest crowd of the week totaled about 1,500 - substantially less than 10 per cent of the enrollment of 18,500 - and all but a handful of them were onlookers, who cheered when the police arrived Wednesday. The doors of the union were locked Wednesday and during the five-hour confrontation between the demonstrators and the counter-demonstrators STUDENTS - Continued on Page Eight STUDENTS-- Continued from Page One restrooms became a critical problem. One demonstrator was gone when the police arrived and made the arrests and put the 108 on buses and took them to jail. " I missed the bus," he told Iowa City City Manager Frank Smiley. " Can I still be arrested?" " We both missed the bus," said Smiley, who was hunting a ride to his office across town. At the police station, the 108 were put in the big city garage. The first question put to them: " Who is going to pick up the Starbuck children at school?" George Starbuck, the new head of the university's Writer's Workshop, and his wife had been with the protesters "because a faculty member ought to be there." The garage was stuffy. "We'll open this door for ventilation if you'll promise not to leave" said City Manager Smiley. They promised. Friday, with the university's promise of disciplinary action dominant, the protesters collected in a courtyard at the union. They may not realize it, but as protesters they do first class: The Union staff had provided tables for them and had carried out a microphone and loud-speakers for their use. In a hallway Friday, one of Wednesday's counter-demonstrators, Terry Branstad of Leland, encountered a demonstrator, Kathy Chimera of San [handwritten] p.2(of 5)
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