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Campus "Unrest" Demonstrations, 1970
1970-05-07 Request to University President Sandy Boyd Page 1
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Morning, May 9, 1970 Last night the Old Armory Temporary burned totally, and partially damaged the Old Armory itself. This was a culmination of a week of unrest and violence here, at the University of Iowa. With Southern Illinois, Illinois, Madison and others in the vicinity closed down there exists a real possibility that outside dissidents and agitators may be turning towards Iowa City as the last or one of the last functioning hot spots in the area. According to the "rumor mill" there are factions of the Weathermen and the Black Panthers in Iowa City. There are also approximately 500 national guard within 5 miles of Iowa City ready to move in on the campus. Further, after living for a week under such tensions as have been present here, there is a real danger that the situation could explode at any time. This not only threatens Iowa City's and the University's property but drastically increases the imminent danger to peoples lives. Keeping these things in mind we have asked President Boyd, via Phil Hubbard and Bob Engel, to shut the University down for the rest of the semester and possibly through the summer. This would be done with the understanding that students would not lose their semesters work, but would be allowed to correspond with their proffessors to work out a final grade and full credit for the semesters work. We feel that people must be freed to leave Iowa City without fear of being penalized by grades , if they feel they are in any danger. We also feel that this would get a tremendous amount of noncommitted, innocent by-stander types out of town and out of danger. In no way can this be looked upon as succumbing to itimidation. There are people's lives and safety at stake here. We have four marters at Kent. We surely do not need anymore. So, out of concern for the innocent and uninvolved we have asked President Boyd to close this University, today. [illegible] Beller Robert Beller Student Body President Larry Wood Larry Wood Student Body Vice-President
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Morning, May 9, 1970 Last night the Old Armory Temporary burned totally, and partially damaged the Old Armory itself. This was a culmination of a week of unrest and violence here, at the University of Iowa. With Southern Illinois, Illinois, Madison and others in the vicinity closed down there exists a real possibility that outside dissidents and agitators may be turning towards Iowa City as the last or one of the last functioning hot spots in the area. According to the "rumor mill" there are factions of the Weathermen and the Black Panthers in Iowa City. There are also approximately 500 national guard within 5 miles of Iowa City ready to move in on the campus. Further, after living for a week under such tensions as have been present here, there is a real danger that the situation could explode at any time. This not only threatens Iowa City's and the University's property but drastically increases the imminent danger to peoples lives. Keeping these things in mind we have asked President Boyd, via Phil Hubbard and Bob Engel, to shut the University down for the rest of the semester and possibly through the summer. This would be done with the understanding that students would not lose their semesters work, but would be allowed to correspond with their proffessors to work out a final grade and full credit for the semesters work. We feel that people must be freed to leave Iowa City without fear of being penalized by grades , if they feel they are in any danger. We also feel that this would get a tremendous amount of noncommitted, innocent by-stander types out of town and out of danger. In no way can this be looked upon as succumbing to itimidation. There are people's lives and safety at stake here. We have four marters at Kent. We surely do not need anymore. So, out of concern for the innocent and uninvolved we have asked President Boyd to close this University, today. [illegible] Beller Robert Beller Student Body President Larry Wood Larry Wood Student Body Vice-President
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