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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1968

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DI
Sept. 20, 1968

King, ROTC Programs Come Under NUC Fire

A proposal to eliminate ROTC from the University and one asking an investgation of the criteria used by the University in selecting recipients of Martin Luther King scholarships were offered Thursday to about 80 graduate students and faculty members at the organizational meeting of New University Conference (NUC).

The proposals came after speeches by Howard J. Ehrlich, associate professor of sociology and anthropology, and Edward Hoffmans, local counselor for Resist, the antidraft organization. Ehrlich presented a history of the radically orientated NUC to the audience and Hoffmans spoke on the relationship between draft resistance and NUC. 

The proposal to end ROTC at the University was made by Laird Addis, assistant professor of philosophy. Addis called for the elimination of academic rank for ROTC professors, the elimination of credit for ROTC courses, elimination of the ROTC booth at Registration and an investigation of the legal status of ROTC on campus. 

Frederick Woodard, G. Davenport, called for the investigation of the Martin Luther King Scholarship Fund program, charging that the University had not kept its promise to recruit black students who were educationally disadvantaged. Instead, the University accepted mostly students who met usual University admission standards, said Woodard, who said he has worked with the scholarship recipients. 

The program was set up to give financial assistance to students who would have not otherwise had the means to attend college, but 10 of the 32 King scholars are transfer students who have already attended college without the aid of the funds, according to Woodard. 

The $50,000 fund was set up by University Pres. Howard R. Bowen after the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., last spring. At that time, Bowen dedicated the program to the recruitment of economically and educationally disadvantaged students from ghetto areas. The fund was financed by contributions from faculty, students and city residents. 

Janet Burdick,G, Iowa City, asked the organization ti investigate University employment conditions for women. According to Mr.s Burdick, who is the wife of John Burdick, assistant professor of philosophy, fewer fringe benefits are given to women employes. 

Ehrlich defined the national goals of NUC as the rejection of the idea that the university preserves its integrity by passing on the commonplace opinion of the now dominant groups and forces of American life. 

"We believe in the university that does not hesitate to incorporate radical thought into its curriculum," Ehrlich read from a national NUC statement. 

Hoffmans read a "Draft Resisters' Bill of Rights" that was drawn up by NUC to give draft resisters the same government benefits as veterans. 

The Bill of Rights also includes a proposal to arrange for correspondence courses to be provided through university extension services for men jailed for draft resistance. 

In executive session, which was closed to reporters, the NUC organizing committee discussed action to be taken in protest of the August appointment of William L. Binney as chief of Campus Security, according to Ehrlich. Binney was appointed without the approval of the student-faculty Committee on Security and Parking, which is the usual procedure, Ehrlch charged.

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[handwritten] DI Sept. 20, 1968 King, ROTC Programs Come Under NUC Fire A proposal to eliminate ROTC from the University and one asking an investgation of the criteria used by the University in selecting recipients of Martin Luther King scholarships were offered Thursday to about 80 graduate students and faculty members at the organizational meeting of New University Conference (NUC). The proposals came after speeches by Howard J. Ehrlich, associate professor of sociology and anthropology, and Edward Hoffmans, local counselor for Resist, the antidraft organization. Ehrlich presented a history of the radically orientated NUC to the audience and Hoffmans spoke on the relationship between draft resistance and NUC. The proposal to end ROTC at the University was made by Laird Addis, assistant professor of philosophy. Addis called for the elimination of academic rank for ROTC professors, the elimination of credit for ROTC courses, elimination of the ROTC booth at Registration and an investigation of the legal status of ROTC on campus. Frederick Woodard, G. Davenport, called for the investigation of the Martin Luther King Scholarship Fund program, charging that the University had not kept its promise to recruit black students who were educationally disadvantaged. Instead, the University accepted mostly students who met usual University admission standards, said Woodard, who said he has worked with the scholarship recipients. The program was set up to give financial assistance to students who would have not otherwise had the means to attend college, but 10 of the 32 King scholars are transfer students who have already attended college without the aid of the funds, according to Woodard. The $50,000 fund was set up by University Pres. Howard R. Bowen after the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., last spring. At that time, Bowen dedicated the program to the recruitment of economically and educationally disadvantaged students from ghetto areas. The fund was financed by contributions from faculty, students and city residents. Janet Burdick,G, Iowa City, asked the organization ti investigate University employment conditions for women. According to Mr.s Burdick, who is the wife of John Burdick, assistant professor of philosophy, fewer fringe benefits are given to women employes. Ehrlich defined the national goals of NUC as the rejection of the idea that the university preserves its integrity by passing on the commonplace opinion of the now dominant groups and forces of American life. "We believe in the university that does not hesitate to incorporate radical thought into its curriculum," Ehrlich read from a national NUC statement. Hoffmans read a "Draft Resisters' Bill of Rights" that was drawn up by NUC to give draft resisters the same government benefits as veterans. The Bill of Rights also includes a proposal to arrange for correspondence courses to be provided through university extension services for men jailed for draft resistance. In executive session, which was closed to reporters, the NUC organizing committee discussed action to be taken in protest of the August appointment of William L. Binney as chief of Campus Security, according to Ehrlich. Binney was appointed without the approval of the student-faculty Committee on Security and Parking, which is the usual procedure, Ehrlch charged.