DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa football boycott suspension newspaper articles, 1969 | 1969-04-21 Des Moines Register Article: "Boycotting Blacks at Iowa Charge 'Intolerable Situation'"

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University of Iowa football boycott suspension newspaper articles, 1969

1969-04-21 Des Moines Register Article: "Boycotting Blacks at Iowa Charge 'Intolerable Situation'"

DMR April 21, 1969

Boycotting Blacks at Iowa Charge ‘Intolerable Situation’
By Ron Maly
   Blast athletes at the University of Iowa claimed Sunday it was never their intention not to participate in the school’s athletic program.
   Instead, they said in a statement, “our primary concern is to demonstrate through our protest that there is an intolerable situation at the university for all black people.”
   The “protest” apparently is in reference to the boycotting of spring football practice by 16 Negro players. Because they had unexcused absences, Coach Ray Nagel has ruled, all are “off the team.”
   The 16 Negro players are

[photo] RAY NAGEL      WILLIAM BOYD

Members of the newly organized group called the Black Athletics Union. It was formed three weeks ago and apparently no one person is in charge.
   Athletes from other sports, including basketball, are also members of the group. However, four black football players who are out for spring practice are not in the group.
   The four who reported are tackle Mel Morris and end Ray Manning, both offensive starters; tailback Bill Powell and offensive in Don Osby, a promising sophomore-to-be.
   A Black Athletes Union spokesman refused to go into specifics concerning the “intolerable situation” at Iowa City. Black leaders have also refused to say what their demands are of the school and the athletic department.
   However, it was learned Sun-
IOWA—Please turn to Page Four
day the Negroes did present a list of demands to newly-named University of Iowa President Williard L. Boyd, Sam Fahr, chairman of the Board in Control of Athletics; Athletic Director Forest Evashevski; Nagel and Basketball Coach Ralph Miller.
   A response was made to the Blacks, but apparently it did not satisfy them.
   “We want to have the assurance that the machinery has been set in motion to alleviate situation as it exists,” the Black Athletes Union statement said.
   “Complete satisfaction, and not pacification, is our goal.”
   One of the areas in which the Negroes are primarily concerned is graduation—or the lack of it.

Graduation Critical
   “Graduation is the critical area of education,” they said. “The history of black people at the University of Iowa seriously rivals the University of Texas at El Paso in this area of education.”
   The black said none of the five Negro starters for Texas-El Paso in the 1966 National Collegiate basketball final against Kentucky obtained their degree. Neither did two black reserves, they said.
  “It was not intended that the black athlete graduate,” the Black Athletes Union charged.
   “We have held discussions with them (the blacks),” Boyd told The Register Sunday, “and we are trying to work on these matters. Graduation is important -- there is no difference of opinion on that.” 
   Boyd said he did not wish to comment on other aspects of the current situation.
   The blacks said, “It has been stated that the university (Iowa) has an integrated football team and an integrated community. We maintain that this is not completely true.” 

Self-Dismissal
   Nagel said Friday while discussing the Negroes’ boycott of the first day of spring practice that “we have an integrated team and an integrated university -- and that’s how I prefer it.” 
   The coach called it a self-dismissal” from the squad when the blacks failed to report for practice.
   It was also learned Sunday the blacks knew of the consequences if they missed practice. They were told by Nagel at a squad meeting last Thursday that they would be off the team if they boycotted the workout the next day.
   Failure to report for practice also means loss of scholarship. However, one of the 16 blacks who boycotted the first two days of workouts said his scholarship had not yet been lifted.
   When told of the Black Athletes Union statement Sunday, Nagel said, “I believe in these basic principles that the black athletes are striving for.”   
   Sam Fahr, University of Iowa law professor who is chairman of the athletic board, had no comment on either the statement or the boycott.   
   Evashevski was attending a meeting at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and could not be reached for comment.

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DMR April 21, 1969 Boycotting Blacks at Iowa Charge ‘Intolerable Situation’ By Ron Maly Blast athletes at the University of Iowa claimed Sunday it was never their intention not to participate in the school’s athletic program. Instead, they said in a statement, “our primary concern is to demonstrate through our protest that there is an intolerable situation at the university for all black people.” The “protest” apparently is in reference to the boycotting of spring football practice by 16 Negro players. Because they had unexcused absences, Coach Ray Nagel has ruled, all are “off the team.” The 16 Negro players are [photo] RAY NAGEL WILLIAM BOYD Members of the newly organized group called the Black Athletics Union. It was formed three weeks ago and apparently no one person is in charge. Athletes from other sports, including basketball, are also members of the group. However, four black football players who are out for spring practice are not in the group. The four who reported are tackle Mel Morris and end Ray Manning, both offensive starters; tailback Bill Powell and offensive in Don Osby, a promising sophomore-to-be. A Black Athletes Union spokesman refused to go into specifics concerning the “intolerable situation” at Iowa City. Black leaders have also refused to say what their demands are of the school and the athletic department. However, it was learned Sun- IOWA—Please turn to Page Four day the Negroes did present a list of demands to newly-named University of Iowa President Williard L. Boyd, Sam Fahr, chairman of the Board in Control of Athletics; Athletic Director Forest Evashevski; Nagel and Basketball Coach Ralph Miller. A response was made to the Blacks, but apparently it did not satisfy them. “We want to have the assurance that the machinery has been set in motion to alleviate situation as it exists,” the Black Athletes Union statement said. “Complete satisfaction, and not pacification, is our goal.” One of the areas in which the Negroes are primarily concerned is graduation—or the lack of it. Graduation Critical “Graduation is the critical area of education,” they said. “The history of black people at the University of Iowa seriously rivals the University of Texas at El Paso in this area of education.” The black said none of the five Negro starters for Texas-El Paso in the 1966 National Collegiate basketball final against Kentucky obtained their degree. Neither did two black reserves, they said. “It was not intended that the black athlete graduate,” the Black Athletes Union charged. “We have held discussions with them (the blacks),” Boyd told The Register Sunday, “and we are trying to work on these matters. Graduation is important -- there is no difference of opinion on that.” Boyd said he did not wish to comment on other aspects of the current situation. The blacks said, “It has been stated that the university (Iowa) has an integrated football team and an integrated community. We maintain that this is not completely true.” Self-Dismissal Nagel said Friday while discussing the Negroes’ boycott of the first day of spring practice that “we have an integrated team and an integrated university -- and that’s how I prefer it.” The coach called it a self-dismissal” from the squad when the blacks failed to report for practice. It was also learned Sunday the blacks knew of the consequences if they missed practice. They were told by Nagel at a squad meeting last Thursday that they would be off the team if they boycotted the workout the next day. Failure to report for practice also means loss of scholarship. However, one of the 16 blacks who boycotted the first two days of workouts said his scholarship had not yet been lifted. When told of the Black Athletes Union statement Sunday, Nagel said, “I believe in these basic principles that the black athletes are striving for.” Sam Fahr, University of Iowa law professor who is chairman of the athletic board, had no comment on either the statement or the boycott. Evashevski was attending a meeting at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and could not be reached for comment.