DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa football boycott suspension newspaper articles, 1969 | 1969-04-24 Daily Iowan Article: "BAU Spells Out Blacks' Demands"

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University of Iowa football boycott suspension newspaper articles, 1969

1969-04-24 Daily Iowan Article: "BAU Spells Out Blacks' Demands"

DI April 24, 1969

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a letter released by the Black Athletes Union (BAU) Wednesday which outlines the demands the group has made to the Department of Athletics:
          -----
Open Letter to the Public:
Because of the results of a meeting of the athletic board of the University of Iowa, we, the Black Athletes of the University, would like to explain in detail our reasons and purposes for protesting. We have not made any press release because of an incident last spring whereas we were misquoted and completely put at fault for what we had done. We feel now and we felt then that our demands and grievances are and were justified. Public opinion and backing is very important in reaching agreement with the University and Athletic Department. Some newspapers are known to sway public opinion against us and print the news as they see fit. The above is the reason for withholding information from the papers.
We are putting our educations on the line because of what we believe; our demands are as follows:
1. We believe that adequate counselors should be provided for all athletes to lead them in a positive and progressive course of study toward graduation. We feel these counselors should be specialists in their specific field: business, medicine, l. w. engineering, etc. not general advisers.
2. That because of the nature of our existence here at the University many athletes cannot carry the heavy load of hours in order to graduate in four years. We feel that our financial aid should be provided until graduation.
3. That a five-year scholarship be pushed through for those athletes that require a year or more for graduation purposes.
4. That some amount of autonomy be left to the athlete in the control of his social and personal life. Expressions of political belief should not be held against them.
5. That the allowance of $15 by NCAA rules, be accepted by the Big 10 committee and steps be taken in the direction to find out what Big 10 schools are backing this proposal.
We would also like it to be known that steps have been taken to resolve these problems and next Monday should prove to be the day of final agreement.

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DI April 24, 1969 EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a letter released by the Black Athletes Union (BAU) Wednesday which outlines the demands the group has made to the Department of Athletics: ----- Open Letter to the Public: Because of the results of a meeting of the athletic board of the University of Iowa, we, the Black Athletes of the University, would like to explain in detail our reasons and purposes for protesting. We have not made any press release because of an incident last spring whereas we were misquoted and completely put at fault for what we had done. We feel now and we felt then that our demands and grievances are and were justified. Public opinion and backing is very important in reaching agreement with the University and Athletic Department. Some newspapers are known to sway public opinion against us and print the news as they see fit. The above is the reason for withholding information from the papers. We are putting our educations on the line because of what we believe; our demands are as follows: 1. We believe that adequate counselors should be provided for all athletes to lead them in a positive and progressive course of study toward graduation. We feel these counselors should be specialists in their specific field: business, medicine, l. w. engineering, etc. not general advisers. 2. That because of the nature of our existence here at the University many athletes cannot carry the heavy load of hours in order to graduate in four years. We feel that our financial aid should be provided until graduation. 3. That a five-year scholarship be pushed through for those athletes that require a year or more for graduation purposes. 4. That some amount of autonomy be left to the athlete in the control of his social and personal life. Expressions of political belief should not be held against them. 5. That the allowance of $15 by NCAA rules, be accepted by the Big 10 committee and steps be taken in the direction to find out what Big 10 schools are backing this proposal. We would also like it to be known that steps have been taken to resolve these problems and next Monday should prove to be the day of final agreement.