DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970 | 1970-05-08 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Officials Show Strain From Long Week"" Page 4

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970

1970-05-08 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Officials Show Strain From Long Week"" Page 4

P-C
May 8, 1970
4 (of 4)

Arrests *
From Page 1A
ficers called to the scene. He 
continued:
"A situation exists on the Pentacrest of the University of Iowa campus that the president feels, as the provost hs told you, can take place no longer. I am now present to execute his order...
"I personally ask that you leave the Pentacrest; I ask you to disperse.
"Those who feel so strongly that you desire passively to be arrested may do so." After a pause, he announced:
"I ask again that you leave. I will have to assume either that you want to be pushed forcefully or be arrested."
After telling "those who feel they must continue talking" that they could go to the women's athletic field west of the Pentacrest.
Dickinson said he would give people 10 minutes to disperse before officers would begin clearing the area.
Actually it was more like 25 minutes before the first officers appeared from the north side of Old Capitol to cordon off the seated demonstrators courting arrest. As they walked steadily but slowly to surround the area, the crowd sang John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance."
Other officers cleared the Pentacrest of bystanders, moving these crowds off to the side and across Clinton Street, again without using force.
After the Pentacrest was cleared the first of those arrested was brought to the curb and a waiting bus. As they filed into the bus, bystanders joined in singing the "Star-Spangled Banner."
In all four trips by the single bus were necessary to take those arrested to the Civic Center and County Jail where they were booked.
When the last bus had pulled away at 3:20 a.m., the officers divided into three groups, moving one east on Iowa Avenue one north on Clinton and the third south on Clinton and west on Washington. The only incident reported was some throwing of cans and bottles at Clinton and Washington Streets.
The beakin at Old Capitol followed several hours of peaceful protest in which most were content to listen to a rock band called River Jenny. Empty quart bottles of beer dotted the ground and smell of marijuana hung in the air.
Shortly before 10 p.m. those speaking during the band breaks began urging the crowd to take action. "Are you gong to just drink your wine and smoke your dope or are you going to do something," one said.
Several hundred then moved into Clinton Street at Iowa Avenue halting traffic. About this time approximately 25 persons entered Jessup Hall which houses admission and grade records. According to reports, the building was not locked.
From 10 to 20 demonstrators entered Old Capitol and those in the intersection and Jessup Hall withdrew. A basement window in the buiding was broken.
One person set off a smoke bomb in the building which was mistaken for a fire. At least one television station flashed a bulletin saying the building had been set ablaze.
First officials to arrive were Provost Ray L. Heffner, Campus Police Chief William Binne and UI Public Information officer Gordon Strayer.
City police and City Manager Frank R. Smiley arrived shortly after 10 p.m. Three persons remained in the building after all had been ordered to leave, and they were placed under arrest.
The three, Stanley B. Mortensen, 22, Roland Schembari, 26, and an unidentified man sat down on stairs and refused to move. Mortensen was Maced and handcuffed to the other two,

* *Campus
From Page 1A
over Boyd's decision to clear the area.
"Why didn't he (Boyd) come out and see it before sending them in?" the city manager asked.
Although Smiley was refused when he requested that Judge Neely allow the protesters to be released on their own recognizance, the city manager affirmed Neely's right to run his own court.
"That's the way it should be," he said.
Neely did come under fire for clearing the court of reporters.
In related action, the Associated Residence Halls called for a boycott of classes today, after what they termed the "needless" arrests.
A statement signed by C. Douglass Couto, ARH president, said:
"In order to prevent further disruption, I urge . . . that all students in residence halls . . . remain away from classes and contemplate the events of the past 24 hours. I also urge the university to suspend classes in wake of further outbreaks by concerned students."
The Association of Campus Ministers announced today it has donated $300 as bail for arrested students.
Three clergymen were arrested in the protest. They are Rev. Roy Wingate, the Rev. Ronald Osborne and George Forell, who is head of the university's School of Religion. The $300 originally had been raised for their bail before they were released on their own recognizance.

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P-C May 8, 1970 4 (of 4) Arrests * From Page 1A ficers called to the scene. He continued: "A situation exists on the Pentacrest of the University of Iowa campus that the president feels, as the provost hs told you, can take place no longer. I am now present to execute his order... "I personally ask that you leave the Pentacrest; I ask you to disperse. "Those who feel so strongly that you desire passively to be arrested may do so." After a pause, he announced: "I ask again that you leave. I will have to assume either that you want to be pushed forcefully or be arrested." After telling "those who feel they must continue talking" that they could go to the women's athletic field west of the Pentacrest. Dickinson said he would give people 10 minutes to disperse before officers would begin clearing the area. Actually it was more like 25 minutes before the first officers appeared from the north side of Old Capitol to cordon off the seated demonstrators courting arrest. As they walked steadily but slowly to surround the area, the crowd sang John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance." Other officers cleared the Pentacrest of bystanders, moving these crowds off to the side and across Clinton Street, again without using force. After the Pentacrest was cleared the first of those arrested was brought to the curb and a waiting bus. As they filed into the bus, bystanders joined in singing the "Star-Spangled Banner." In all four trips by the single bus were necessary to take those arrested to the Civic Center and County Jail where they were booked. When the last bus had pulled away at 3:20 a.m., the officers divided into three groups, moving one east on Iowa Avenue one north on Clinton and the third south on Clinton and west on Washington. The only incident reported was some throwing of cans and bottles at Clinton and Washington Streets. The beakin at Old Capitol followed several hours of peaceful protest in which most were content to listen to a rock band called River Jenny. Empty quart bottles of beer dotted the ground and smell of marijuana hung in the air. Shortly before 10 p.m. those speaking during the band breaks began urging the crowd to take action. "Are you gong to just drink your wine and smoke your dope or are you going to do something," one said. Several hundred then moved into Clinton Street at Iowa Avenue halting traffic. About this time approximately 25 persons entered Jessup Hall which houses admission and grade records. According to reports, the building was not locked. From 10 to 20 demonstrators entered Old Capitol and those in the intersection and Jessup Hall withdrew. A basement window in the buiding was broken. One person set off a smoke bomb in the building which was mistaken for a fire. At least one television station flashed a bulletin saying the building had been set ablaze. First officials to arrive were Provost Ray L. Heffner, Campus Police Chief William Binne and UI Public Information officer Gordon Strayer. City police and City Manager Frank R. Smiley arrived shortly after 10 p.m. Three persons remained in the building after all had been ordered to leave, and they were placed under arrest. The three, Stanley B. Mortensen, 22, Roland Schembari, 26, and an unidentified man sat down on stairs and refused to move. Mortensen was Maced and handcuffed to the other two, * *Campus From Page 1A over Boyd's decision to clear the area. "Why didn't he (Boyd) come out and see it before sending them in?" the city manager asked. Although Smiley was refused when he requested that Judge Neely allow the protesters to be released on their own recognizance, the city manager affirmed Neely's right to run his own court. "That's the way it should be," he said. Neely did come under fire for clearing the court of reporters. In related action, the Associated Residence Halls called for a boycott of classes today, after what they termed the "needless" arrests. A statement signed by C. Douglass Couto, ARH president, said: "In order to prevent further disruption, I urge . . . that all students in residence halls . . . remain away from classes and contemplate the events of the past 24 hours. I also urge the university to suspend classes in wake of further outbreaks by concerned students." The Association of Campus Ministers announced today it has donated $300 as bail for arrested students. Three clergymen were arrested in the protest. They are Rev. Roy Wingate, the Rev. Ronald Osborne and George Forell, who is head of the university's School of Religion. The $300 originally had been raised for their bail before they were released on their own recognizance.