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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1965-1967
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The Daily Iowan OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENT PAGE 2 WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 6,1967 IOWA CITY, IOWA Irresponsible protest was unfortunate The action was here again Tuesday. How unfortunate it is that the action was not more responsible. A group of students and faculty which grew in size as the day progressed, roamed the campus disrupting the functioning of the University. This occurred after smaller groups lawlessly stormed blockades set up by University officials to keep unauthorized people out of the area of the Union where the Dow Chemical recruiters were working. All of this was part of a fad that's been sweeping the country. For what seem to be completely irrational reasons, Dow has become the target for the most bitter protests against the war. But the lack of responsibility was not with just the disruptors. There was unnecessary and unwise police violence. Although the great majority of the men in the riot squads maintained the responsibility we had learned we could expect from the riot police, a few individuals made a bad scene. I saw what happened when a group of protesters broke through a police barricade at the foot of the stairs outside the Union Activities Center. When the demonstrators were repelled the first time, police wisely and cautiously used chemical mace. A second attack by the demonstrators was also turned back using about the correct amount of force. But then some of the demonstrators started arguing with the police. And at least two of the police virtually went crazy. They used their mace and riot sticks to take care of those who offended them. The correct police action in this case would have been to immediately arrest those involved. Instead, and maybe in addition to, punishment for the legal offenses was meted out right there and then. It should be emphasized that such police officers were quite few in number, although they did urge their colleagues to help them. Only a few did help. By the way, the mace is quite effective. I can still feel it. Then there was the University administration. Silent Howie was reported to be out of town some of the day, although he probably wouldn’t have had anything to say anyway. After what he said to those who had asked for a referendum on allowing Dow to recruit (what the majority of the students might think should have no effect on whether Dow recruits here), it probably is good he didn’t say anything publicly. Dean Philip G. Hubbard was at the demonstration much of the time. Dean M. L. Huit was there part of the time. Hubbard claimed that he was surprised to see the riot squad on campus. It’s good that the Iowa City and Johnson County officials were wise enough to act on their own this time, without waiting for the University administration to ask them. The University’s public relations director, Gordon Strayer, was on the scene part of the time. It is unfortunate that he wasn’t doing what he should have been: assisting various news men in the area -- helping them “interpret” what was going on or arranging for them to see various University officials. But he was too busy being sarcastic about the student newspaper (“Which ones are sincere?” -- referring to the demonstrators and an editorial of mine in Tuesday’s paper). Some of the counter-demonstrators who had made the Nov. 1 incident such a glorious event for the University were on hand much of the day. Among them were members of the Students for Patriotic Action group, which we had been told had been dissolved. But they were in the extreme minority this time and possibly were afraid to do much. There were some bright spots: The Iowa City group that picketed the Union peacefully Monday continued to do so Tuesday despite the irresponsible actions of others opposed to the war. The majority of the riot squad and its leaders, as I said, prevented what might have been another Madison by their wise restraint, although the University administration should have seriously considered asking that the lawless disrupting students be arrested. And most of the spectators didn’t try to cause more trouble than was already going on. In general, it is unfortunate that a small percentage of the University community was able to disrupt things as much as they did. It is unfortunate that an undesirable degree of anarchy was allowed to exist on the campus. But maybe things will turn out better next time. -- Bill Newbrough Demonstrators should support McCarthy What was accomplished by Tues- one another that the military-industri- grom against the hawks? Why not
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The Daily Iowan OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENT PAGE 2 WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 6,1967 IOWA CITY, IOWA Irresponsible protest was unfortunate The action was here again Tuesday. How unfortunate it is that the action was not more responsible. A group of students and faculty which grew in size as the day progressed, roamed the campus disrupting the functioning of the University. This occurred after smaller groups lawlessly stormed blockades set up by University officials to keep unauthorized people out of the area of the Union where the Dow Chemical recruiters were working. All of this was part of a fad that's been sweeping the country. For what seem to be completely irrational reasons, Dow has become the target for the most bitter protests against the war. But the lack of responsibility was not with just the disruptors. There was unnecessary and unwise police violence. Although the great majority of the men in the riot squads maintained the responsibility we had learned we could expect from the riot police, a few individuals made a bad scene. I saw what happened when a group of protesters broke through a police barricade at the foot of the stairs outside the Union Activities Center. When the demonstrators were repelled the first time, police wisely and cautiously used chemical mace. A second attack by the demonstrators was also turned back using about the correct amount of force. But then some of the demonstrators started arguing with the police. And at least two of the police virtually went crazy. They used their mace and riot sticks to take care of those who offended them. The correct police action in this case would have been to immediately arrest those involved. Instead, and maybe in addition to, punishment for the legal offenses was meted out right there and then. It should be emphasized that such police officers were quite few in number, although they did urge their colleagues to help them. Only a few did help. By the way, the mace is quite effective. I can still feel it. Then there was the University administration. Silent Howie was reported to be out of town some of the day, although he probably wouldn’t have had anything to say anyway. After what he said to those who had asked for a referendum on allowing Dow to recruit (what the majority of the students might think should have no effect on whether Dow recruits here), it probably is good he didn’t say anything publicly. Dean Philip G. Hubbard was at the demonstration much of the time. Dean M. L. Huit was there part of the time. Hubbard claimed that he was surprised to see the riot squad on campus. It’s good that the Iowa City and Johnson County officials were wise enough to act on their own this time, without waiting for the University administration to ask them. The University’s public relations director, Gordon Strayer, was on the scene part of the time. It is unfortunate that he wasn’t doing what he should have been: assisting various news men in the area -- helping them “interpret” what was going on or arranging for them to see various University officials. But he was too busy being sarcastic about the student newspaper (“Which ones are sincere?” -- referring to the demonstrators and an editorial of mine in Tuesday’s paper). Some of the counter-demonstrators who had made the Nov. 1 incident such a glorious event for the University were on hand much of the day. Among them were members of the Students for Patriotic Action group, which we had been told had been dissolved. But they were in the extreme minority this time and possibly were afraid to do much. There were some bright spots: The Iowa City group that picketed the Union peacefully Monday continued to do so Tuesday despite the irresponsible actions of others opposed to the war. The majority of the riot squad and its leaders, as I said, prevented what might have been another Madison by their wise restraint, although the University administration should have seriously considered asking that the lawless disrupting students be arrested. And most of the spectators didn’t try to cause more trouble than was already going on. In general, it is unfortunate that a small percentage of the University community was able to disrupt things as much as they did. It is unfortunate that an undesirable degree of anarchy was allowed to exist on the campus. But maybe things will turn out better next time. -- Bill Newbrough Demonstrators should support McCarthy What was accomplished by Tues- one another that the military-industri- grom against the hawks? Why not
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