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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1965-1967
31858064848116_062-04
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[handwritten] Iowa Alumni Review Dec. '67, Jan. '68 women's athletic field near the Union. Unlike the November demonstrations though, the December protest involved overt action on the part of the protesters. The nae of the game seemed to be action against the police and contituted authority, using a highly organized order of battle, megaphones and walkie-talkies to wage a sort of guerrilla warfare. The plan was one of running the police ragged and it partially succeeded. Two officers were taken to hospital . . . one who collapsed with an inner ear disorder, and another from exhaustion. The December demonstrations differed from earlier action, too, in that the onlookers did not become involved and in that police were, in isolated incidents, forced to use riot control gas and riot sticks. And, naturally, the accusation of "police brutality" was made at the first squirt of gas and the first lump on a head. Sheriff Schneider later told the pres that the officers knew only that rumors persisted that the demonstrators were going to attempt to get the Dow representative, and that they might even try to remove President Bowen from his office in Old Capitol. There was also a rumor, Schneider said, that the demonstrators would attempt to burn a live dog to dramatize their point against Dow. And to add to the confusion, a construction bulldozer accidentally cut all telephone lines to the Student Union and Alumni House from which officers were attempting to coordinate their action. Police assumed, until investigation proved differently, that communications had been sabotaged. There were several confrontations that day - with protesters scattering and regrouping at different places according to plan. A few classroom buildings were "visited" but disruptions were brief. Since the two incidents, the aftermath has been one of positions, anti-positions, accusations, defenses and the court hearings and student interviews with U of I officials. On December 12, U of I President Howard R. Bowen outlined University of Iowa policy on future demonstrations at a faculty meeting in Macbride auditorium. " The policy of the University on matters recently in controversy has been consistent and it has been clear," Bowen said. " This policy is in three parts: To assure free and equal ac [photo] PHOTO BY RICHARD BOULWARE 21
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[handwritten] Iowa Alumni Review Dec. '67, Jan. '68 women's athletic field near the Union. Unlike the November demonstrations though, the December protest involved overt action on the part of the protesters. The nae of the game seemed to be action against the police and contituted authority, using a highly organized order of battle, megaphones and walkie-talkies to wage a sort of guerrilla warfare. The plan was one of running the police ragged and it partially succeeded. Two officers were taken to hospital . . . one who collapsed with an inner ear disorder, and another from exhaustion. The December demonstrations differed from earlier action, too, in that the onlookers did not become involved and in that police were, in isolated incidents, forced to use riot control gas and riot sticks. And, naturally, the accusation of "police brutality" was made at the first squirt of gas and the first lump on a head. Sheriff Schneider later told the pres that the officers knew only that rumors persisted that the demonstrators were going to attempt to get the Dow representative, and that they might even try to remove President Bowen from his office in Old Capitol. There was also a rumor, Schneider said, that the demonstrators would attempt to burn a live dog to dramatize their point against Dow. And to add to the confusion, a construction bulldozer accidentally cut all telephone lines to the Student Union and Alumni House from which officers were attempting to coordinate their action. Police assumed, until investigation proved differently, that communications had been sabotaged. There were several confrontations that day - with protesters scattering and regrouping at different places according to plan. A few classroom buildings were "visited" but disruptions were brief. Since the two incidents, the aftermath has been one of positions, anti-positions, accusations, defenses and the court hearings and student interviews with U of I officials. On December 12, U of I President Howard R. Bowen outlined University of Iowa policy on future demonstrations at a faculty meeting in Macbride auditorium. " The policy of the University on matters recently in controversy has been consistent and it has been clear," Bowen said. " This policy is in three parts: To assure free and equal ac [photo] PHOTO BY RICHARD BOULWARE 21
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