Transcribe
Translate
University of Iowa anti-war protests, 1970
""Iowa '70: Riot, Rhetoric, Responsibility?"" Page 30
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
26 ROTC Many of the recent campus disturbances this spring have been directed toward the Reserve Officers Training Corps on the University of Iowa campus. In April approximately 300 demonstrators successfully disrupted the Pershing Rifle Drill meet being held in the Iowa fieldhouse and a week later also disrupted the Joint Awards Ceremony involving both Army and Air Force ROTC units. The demonstrations against ROTC climaxed with the cancellation of the traditional Governor's Day activities on May 13. When asked about the disruptions Colonel Thurman Spiva, Professor of Aerospace Studies at the University of Iowa viewed the disruptions as a protest which kept the students from exercising their individual rights on the campus. He went on to explain that ROTC was voluntary on campus and that students wishing to be a member of the ROTC units should be allowed to meet and have award ceremonies without interferences. "I think student rights were violated," he stated. Colonel Spiva and Colonel Cyrus Schockey, head of Army ROTC at the University both agreed with University President Willard Boyd's decision to cancel Governor's Day activities because of the threat of almost certain violence. However, Cadet Colonel Gary Seamons, a senior in AFROTC thought the cancellation was one of the poorest showings of respect in the country. He went on to say that when the invitations of six hundred honored guests, including the highest elected official in the state had to be cancelled, it showed a complete lack of a respect toward those people and the positions that they occupy. Seamans went on to say that "whether students feel strongly about the war in Vietnam, Cambodia, or the poiitics of Governor Ray they should still respect these people." Seamans feels protesters should be allowed to demonstrate but that they shouldn't be allowed to disrupt a scheduled University activity. Steve Wilkinson, an AS 300 cadet, also felt the cancellation of Governor's Day helped alleviate the threat of violence. He felt that President Boyd's decision was wise and also helped to calm down the citizens of Iowa City. Many demonstrators assert that ROTC does not belong on the University campus. The rationale followed is that teaching how to kill is not part of a liberal education. They also reason that removing ROTC from college campuses will help end the war in Vietnam by cutting off the military's supply of officers. There are also some faculty members that feel ROTC should not be considered an academic activity. They claim that the courses offered do not deserve academic credit because they are academically inferior to the other courses offered on campus. Col. Schockey feels, however, that a double standard is being applied unfairly to the military science courses. "This University has no standard prescription for academic content. None of the courses at University are measured against a common standard. Why should ROTC be criticized for not meeting a standard when other courses are not judged in the sme way?" Colonel Spiva also agreed that the courses offered on ROTC were academically sound. "If the courses aren't academically sound now, we are willing to make them that way based on any criteria that is used in evaluting other University courses. If these courses are academically sound, compared to other courses, they should be granted credit" he said. Another argument lodged against the teaching of ROTC on campus is that the instructors are not qualified compared to the instructors teaching other courses at the University. From a student standpoint, Steve Wilkinson, thinks there is a tremendous amount of overlapping material in the course. However, he does feel it is valid to offer credit to those students enrolled in ROTC courses. "The first two and a half years are historically oriented and let the students understand the course of events from a military point of view. The military perspective is just as valid as an historian's point of view." When asked about the quality of teaching, Steve said, "the personnel is just as good as any instructors I've ever had; I think they are fully qualified." For Gary Seamans, the 16 hours academic credit in ROTC "benefited me as much or more than any of my other 130 hours." Seamans went on to say that his permanent job with AT&T was based on the abilities he learned and developed in AFROTC. "The material taught in AFROTC was not military in nature but was rather the development of qualities found in
Saving...
prev
next
26 ROTC Many of the recent campus disturbances this spring have been directed toward the Reserve Officers Training Corps on the University of Iowa campus. In April approximately 300 demonstrators successfully disrupted the Pershing Rifle Drill meet being held in the Iowa fieldhouse and a week later also disrupted the Joint Awards Ceremony involving both Army and Air Force ROTC units. The demonstrations against ROTC climaxed with the cancellation of the traditional Governor's Day activities on May 13. When asked about the disruptions Colonel Thurman Spiva, Professor of Aerospace Studies at the University of Iowa viewed the disruptions as a protest which kept the students from exercising their individual rights on the campus. He went on to explain that ROTC was voluntary on campus and that students wishing to be a member of the ROTC units should be allowed to meet and have award ceremonies without interferences. "I think student rights were violated," he stated. Colonel Spiva and Colonel Cyrus Schockey, head of Army ROTC at the University both agreed with University President Willard Boyd's decision to cancel Governor's Day activities because of the threat of almost certain violence. However, Cadet Colonel Gary Seamons, a senior in AFROTC thought the cancellation was one of the poorest showings of respect in the country. He went on to say that when the invitations of six hundred honored guests, including the highest elected official in the state had to be cancelled, it showed a complete lack of a respect toward those people and the positions that they occupy. Seamans went on to say that "whether students feel strongly about the war in Vietnam, Cambodia, or the poiitics of Governor Ray they should still respect these people." Seamans feels protesters should be allowed to demonstrate but that they shouldn't be allowed to disrupt a scheduled University activity. Steve Wilkinson, an AS 300 cadet, also felt the cancellation of Governor's Day helped alleviate the threat of violence. He felt that President Boyd's decision was wise and also helped to calm down the citizens of Iowa City. Many demonstrators assert that ROTC does not belong on the University campus. The rationale followed is that teaching how to kill is not part of a liberal education. They also reason that removing ROTC from college campuses will help end the war in Vietnam by cutting off the military's supply of officers. There are also some faculty members that feel ROTC should not be considered an academic activity. They claim that the courses offered do not deserve academic credit because they are academically inferior to the other courses offered on campus. Col. Schockey feels, however, that a double standard is being applied unfairly to the military science courses. "This University has no standard prescription for academic content. None of the courses at University are measured against a common standard. Why should ROTC be criticized for not meeting a standard when other courses are not judged in the sme way?" Colonel Spiva also agreed that the courses offered on ROTC were academically sound. "If the courses aren't academically sound now, we are willing to make them that way based on any criteria that is used in evaluting other University courses. If these courses are academically sound, compared to other courses, they should be granted credit" he said. Another argument lodged against the teaching of ROTC on campus is that the instructors are not qualified compared to the instructors teaching other courses at the University. From a student standpoint, Steve Wilkinson, thinks there is a tremendous amount of overlapping material in the course. However, he does feel it is valid to offer credit to those students enrolled in ROTC courses. "The first two and a half years are historically oriented and let the students understand the course of events from a military point of view. The military perspective is just as valid as an historian's point of view." When asked about the quality of teaching, Steve said, "the personnel is just as good as any instructors I've ever had; I think they are fully qualified." For Gary Seamans, the 16 hours academic credit in ROTC "benefited me as much or more than any of my other 130 hours." Seamans went on to say that his permanent job with AT&T was based on the abilities he learned and developed in AFROTC. "The material taught in AFROTC was not military in nature but was rather the development of qualities found in
Social Justice
sidebar
