DIY History | Transcribe | Social Justice | University of Iowa football boycott suspension newspaper articles, 1969 | 1969-04-24 Daily Iowan Article: "Black Gridder Fight Left in Nagel's Hands"

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University of Iowa football boycott suspension newspaper articles, 1969

1969-04-24 Daily Iowan Article: "Black Gridder Fight Left in Nagel's Hands"

DI April 24,1969

Black Gridder Fight Left in Nagel's Hands
by CHARLIA COLE
(See Related Statement Page 3)

The Board in Control of Athletics issued a statement Wednesday that said it was trying to improve several conditions criticized by the Black Athletes Union (BAU), but at the same time reaffirmed its policy of leaving matters of team morale and discipline to the coaches and squad members. 
  
  Football Coach Ray Nagel said Wednesday night that the board's meeting did nothing to affect the status of 16 black athletes suspended from the team Friday for failing to attend the first spring drill. 
   
" Nothing here has changed." said Nagel. " It's all been said before."
   
 Nagel has said previously, "They're off the squad and you can take that any way you wish." 
  
  The BAU composed of the 16 dismissed football players, two other blacks who were dismissed from the team earlier for "personal reasons," and several other black athletes, issued a statement at a news conference Wednesday which outlined five demands of the athletes.

Among them was a demand that counselors for athletes come from the student's specific field of study and not be "general advisers" who, the athletes said, often do not understand graduation requirements or the special educational problems of athletes. 
    
     The board, in its statement, said it was taking steps to improve counselling and guidance services for all athletes, involving coordinated use of several University facilities. 

     The board also said it was "exploring" the possibility of financial assistance to athletes beyond the fourth year of academic work. At present Big 10 riles allow an athlete one summer of financial assistance beyond the standard four-year degree program. The athletes say they believe that one summer session is simply not enough time to finish work toward degrees.
     The athletes had asked for a five-year scholarship for those athletes who needed more time fro graduation. They said that with an eligibility limit of 14 hours per semester, they often were not required to or able to carry the load necessary graduate in four years. 

The board also reaffirmed its policy favoring the National Collegiate Athletic Association approved $15 monthly payment to athletes on scholarship. It said it would, "continue to push vigorously for adoption of this payment by the Big 10." 
    The news conference was the first time the actual demands had moved from floating rumours to concrete fact, although they had been in existence since last spring. 

The athletes have said they had no intention of not playing ball when they boycotted Friday's practice. One player said Wednesday that the BAU felt that an open protest was the only way to get action on its grievances, because previous attempts at negotiations had not gotten results. 

   Tuesday, one of the seven freshmen players among the 16 dropped gridders  said the freshmen were dissociating themselves from the BAU and hoped to return to the team. However, upperclassmen in the BAY charged Wednesday that he did not speak for all the others and that the ranks of the 16 players remained firm. 
    None of the freshmen players was available for comment Wednesday night. The Board in Control of Athletics is scheduled to hold another meeting Monday. In its statement, the BAY said it expected new developments in the case on that day.
   In a related development, Jerry Stevens, president of the Afro-American Student Association said that a rally to support the black athletes would be held at noon today on the Union Patio.

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DI April 24,1969 Black Gridder Fight Left in Nagel's Hands by CHARLIA COLE (See Related Statement Page 3) The Board in Control of Athletics issued a statement Wednesday that said it was trying to improve several conditions criticized by the Black Athletes Union (BAU), but at the same time reaffirmed its policy of leaving matters of team morale and discipline to the coaches and squad members. Football Coach Ray Nagel said Wednesday night that the board's meeting did nothing to affect the status of 16 black athletes suspended from the team Friday for failing to attend the first spring drill. " Nothing here has changed." said Nagel. " It's all been said before." Nagel has said previously, "They're off the squad and you can take that any way you wish." The BAU composed of the 16 dismissed football players, two other blacks who were dismissed from the team earlier for "personal reasons," and several other black athletes, issued a statement at a news conference Wednesday which outlined five demands of the athletes. Among them was a demand that counselors for athletes come from the student's specific field of study and not be "general advisers" who, the athletes said, often do not understand graduation requirements or the special educational problems of athletes. The board, in its statement, said it was taking steps to improve counselling and guidance services for all athletes, involving coordinated use of several University facilities. The board also said it was "exploring" the possibility of financial assistance to athletes beyond the fourth year of academic work. At present Big 10 riles allow an athlete one summer of financial assistance beyond the standard four-year degree program. The athletes say they believe that one summer session is simply not enough time to finish work toward degrees. The athletes had asked for a five-year scholarship for those athletes who needed more time fro graduation. They said that with an eligibility limit of 14 hours per semester, they often were not required to or able to carry the load necessary graduate in four years. The board also reaffirmed its policy favoring the National Collegiate Athletic Association approved $15 monthly payment to athletes on scholarship. It said it would, "continue to push vigorously for adoption of this payment by the Big 10." The news conference was the first time the actual demands had moved from floating rumours to concrete fact, although they had been in existence since last spring. The athletes have said they had no intention of not playing ball when they boycotted Friday's practice. One player said Wednesday that the BAU felt that an open protest was the only way to get action on its grievances, because previous attempts at negotiations had not gotten results. Tuesday, one of the seven freshmen players among the 16 dropped gridders said the freshmen were dissociating themselves from the BAU and hoped to return to the team. However, upperclassmen in the BAY charged Wednesday that he did not speak for all the others and that the ranks of the 16 players remained firm. None of the freshmen players was available for comment Wednesday night. The Board in Control of Athletics is scheduled to hold another meeting Monday. In its statement, the BAY said it expected new developments in the case on that day. In a related development, Jerry Stevens, president of the Afro-American Student Association said that a rally to support the black athletes would be held at noon today on the Union Patio.