DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1965-1967

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1965-1967

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[2 photos]

THE OTHER RECRUITER - David Grant, G , St Louis, dressed in the black cowl and carrying the scythe of the "grim reaper", as he has appeared around campus all last week, was one of about 25 picketers in front of the Union Monday protesting the presence of recruiters from Dow Chemical Co., makers of napalm for use in the Vietnamese war. At right, Grant exchanges words with M.L. Huit, dean of students, who asked how he was. " It's hot in here," Grant replied. In photo at left, dolls and photographs of Vietnamese children scarred by napalm, along with a dollar sign, were the feature of a table set up near the Union by the picketers. 
- Photos by Ken Kephart and Dave Luck

Burning Of Dolls Puts The Only Spark IN Day Of Peaceful Picketing Here 

[handwritten]
12/5/67

By ROY PETTY

An unidentified antiwar demonstrator set a small fire to a display of plastic baby dolls near the Union Monday afternoon before the University officially gave permission for the bonfire. 
   The burning of the dolls was intended by its sponsors, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) to illustrate the burning of civilians by U.S. napalm in Vietnam, as a protest against Dow Chemical Co. which had recruiters on campus Monday and today. Dow manufactures napalm used by U.S. armed forces. 
   Roger D. Augustine, assistant dean of student affairs, said Monday night that the University had given " tentative permission" for SDS to burn the dolls provided some safety precautions were taken. 
   Official permission for the burning was delayed because Augustine said he had not been able to contact SDS leaders since Friday to discuss the arrangements. He said the burning was "illegal" and that he was "very disappointed"  in the SDS' "breach of trust"

Picketing Peaceful 
The day of picketing sponsored by the Citizens Committee Against the War in Vietnam, which included many faculty members and their wives, was otherwise peaceful. 
   An anti-Dow rally was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today at the Union Terrace. 
   David Coslett, spokesman for Dow, told a Daily Iowan reporter in a telephone interview from company headquarters in Midland, Mich., Monday that Dow recruiters had been demonstrated against on 55 campuses during the last school year and at 40 schools so far this year. He said that there had been no appreciable number of demonstrators before last year. He also said that the company's representatives had been obstructed from recruiting on only a few campuses.   
   Dow recruiting trips to six or seven campuses had been postponed upon the request of the schools after a vote by the students or faculty bodies, Coslett said. 
   Coslett said that W.L. Hendershott, of Midland Mich., who is recruiting at the University campus, did not feel that it was his job to talk to reporters. 
   Few spectators were on hand to view the picketing by as many as 50 sign-carrying marchers during the day. The burning of the dolls attracted only about 30 bystanders.

Fire Doused
The burning of the dolls, which were mounted on an "altar" topped by a dollar sign, was accompanied by a tape recording of a baby's cries. The blaze was put out by Campus Security officers 15 minutes after it was set.
     Augustine said Monday night that the administration was still trying to discover who started the fire, but at that time he has " a pretty good idea" who it had been. 
   The only other incident occurred when David Grant, G, St Louis , who has been wearing a cloak and carrying a scythe - to symbolize death - for the past week, walked into the Union with a sign under his arm reading " I am Dow's only recruit - death."

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[2 photos] THE OTHER RECRUITER - David Grant, G , St Louis, dressed in the black cowl and carrying the scythe of the "grim reaper", as he has appeared around campus all last week, was one of about 25 picketers in front of the Union Monday protesting the presence of recruiters from Dow Chemical Co., makers of napalm for use in the Vietnamese war. At right, Grant exchanges words with M.L. Huit, dean of students, who asked how he was. " It's hot in here," Grant replied. In photo at left, dolls and photographs of Vietnamese children scarred by napalm, along with a dollar sign, were the feature of a table set up near the Union by the picketers. - Photos by Ken Kephart and Dave Luck Burning Of Dolls Puts The Only Spark IN Day Of Peaceful Picketing Here [handwritten] 12/5/67 By ROY PETTY An unidentified antiwar demonstrator set a small fire to a display of plastic baby dolls near the Union Monday afternoon before the University officially gave permission for the bonfire. The burning of the dolls was intended by its sponsors, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) to illustrate the burning of civilians by U.S. napalm in Vietnam, as a protest against Dow Chemical Co. which had recruiters on campus Monday and today. Dow manufactures napalm used by U.S. armed forces. Roger D. Augustine, assistant dean of student affairs, said Monday night that the University had given " tentative permission" for SDS to burn the dolls provided some safety precautions were taken. Official permission for the burning was delayed because Augustine said he had not been able to contact SDS leaders since Friday to discuss the arrangements. He said the burning was "illegal" and that he was "very disappointed" in the SDS' "breach of trust" Picketing Peaceful The day of picketing sponsored by the Citizens Committee Against the War in Vietnam, which included many faculty members and their wives, was otherwise peaceful. An anti-Dow rally was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today at the Union Terrace. David Coslett, spokesman for Dow, told a Daily Iowan reporter in a telephone interview from company headquarters in Midland, Mich., Monday that Dow recruiters had been demonstrated against on 55 campuses during the last school year and at 40 schools so far this year. He said that there had been no appreciable number of demonstrators before last year. He also said that the company's representatives had been obstructed from recruiting on only a few campuses. Dow recruiting trips to six or seven campuses had been postponed upon the request of the schools after a vote by the students or faculty bodies, Coslett said. Coslett said that W.L. Hendershott, of Midland Mich., who is recruiting at the University campus, did not feel that it was his job to talk to reporters. Few spectators were on hand to view the picketing by as many as 50 sign-carrying marchers during the day. The burning of the dolls attracted only about 30 bystanders. Fire Doused The burning of the dolls, which were mounted on an "altar" topped by a dollar sign, was accompanied by a tape recording of a baby's cries. The blaze was put out by Campus Security officers 15 minutes after it was set. Augustine said Monday night that the administration was still trying to discover who started the fire, but at that time he has " a pretty good idea" who it had been. The only other incident occurred when David Grant, G, St Louis , who has been wearing a cloak and carrying a scythe - to symbolize death - for the past week, walked into the Union with a sign under his arm reading " I am Dow's only recruit - death."