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Students for a Democratic Society, 1965-1972

Strike to Win' Page 1

STRIKE TO WIN
SDS supports the three demands of the COALITION TO FIGHT TUITION INCREASE. We feel these are just demands and will continue to fight for them:
1. Tuition goes down--not up
2. Tax corporations--not the people
3. The demands of the BAU

We believe that three things are necessary to winning the demands and lowering tuition. They are: 1) retention of the second demand, 2) fighting racism in support of the BAU, and 3) a general student strike to win.

The second demand is the only concrete basis for an alliance in this struggle with the majority of the people of Iowa. The owners of corporations make huge profits from University trained manpower and research, but the cost of the University is borne by taxpayers--mostly working people. The alternative to taxing the corporations who benifit from the University is to tax those who work for the corporations. We think that the people should not be taxed for a University that does not serve their interest, but those of their bosses. To call for lower tuition without calling for an increase in corporate taxes is the same as calling for an increase in taxes, which is a slap in the face of the people of Iowa.

The demands of the BAU are just and in the interests of all athletes and students. They are a reaction to the exploitation of all athletes and black athletes in particular Black athletes are especially vulnerable because of the racism of the Athletic Dept. and the position of Blacks as the most oppressed segment of the population. Sixteen Black athletes have been expelled from the football team for boycotting spring practice to win thesae demands. In the same way, Black people across the country have been fighting against the oppression suffered by all Black and white working people and most students.

Some students say we should confine ourselves to struggling against the tuition increase in order to maintain the "unity" of the struggle. At the mass rally on Tuesday night, some students were willing to support the demands but not in the name of the COALITION--that is--to give lip service but not to fight for them. We think that attitude is a reflection of misconceptions about our whole society--such as Blacks have been fighting and leading struggles only for themselves, and therefore that to raise active support for just demands made by Blacks (in the face of racist slanders) is unnecessary.

Why have a strike? We must realize that the demands are not in the interest of the University Administration nor the group of big businessmen whom it serves. The only way the Administration and the legislature will agree to our demands is if we can build a mass strike that can shut down the University. To merely boycott classes would mean that the Administration could ignore us. The strike would force the Administration and the legislature to give us our demands. Some people say that by obstructing classes we will be abusing the rights of students wanting to go to class. In reality, the opposite is true. By going to class these students are working for the tuition hike, which will increase the cost of education being paid by working people. The situation is similar to a strike in a factory. No workers have ever wonconcessions from the bosses without fighting. If workers allowed scabs to work, the boss would have no trouble breaking the strike. The issue at hand is not academic freedom. By going to class students are siding with the Administration and the ruling class which it serves, against the interests of UI students and the working people of the state. The freedom of scabs to go to class is directly opposed to our freedom from the tuition hike.
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STRIKE TO WIN SDS supports the three demands of the COALITION TO FIGHT TUITION INCREASE. We feel these are just demands and will continue to fight for them: 1. Tuition goes down--not up 2. Tax corporations--not the people 3. The demands of the BAU We believe that three things are necessary to winning the demands and lowering tuition. They are: 1) retention of the second demand, 2) fighting racism in support of the BAU, and 3) a general student strike to win. The second demand is the only concrete basis for an alliance in this struggle with the majority of the people of Iowa. The owners of corporations make huge profits from University trained manpower and research, but the cost of the University is borne by taxpayers--mostly working people. The alternative to taxing the corporations who benifit from the University is to tax those who work for the corporations. We think that the people should not be taxed for a University that does not serve their interest, but those of their bosses. To call for lower tuition without calling for an increase in corporate taxes is the same as calling for an increase in taxes, which is a slap in the face of the people of Iowa. The demands of the BAU are just and in the interests of all athletes and students. They are a reaction to the exploitation of all athletes and black athletes in particular Black athletes are especially vulnerable because of the racism of the Athletic Dept. and the position of Blacks as the most oppressed segment of the population. Sixteen Black athletes have been expelled from the football team for boycotting spring practice to win thesae demands. In the same way, Black people across the country have been fighting against the oppression suffered by all Black and white working people and most students. Some students say we should confine ourselves to struggling against the tuition increase in order to maintain the "unity" of the struggle. At the mass rally on Tuesday night, some students were willing to support the demands but not in the name of the COALITION--that is--to give lip service but not to fight for them. We think that attitude is a reflection of misconceptions about our whole society--such as Blacks have been fighting and leading struggles only for themselves, and therefore that to raise active support for just demands made by Blacks (in the face of racist slanders) is unnecessary. Why have a strike? We must realize that the demands are not in the interest of the University Administration nor the group of big businessmen whom it serves. The only way the Administration and the legislature will agree to our demands is if we can build a mass strike that can shut down the University. To merely boycott classes would mean that the Administration could ignore us. The strike would force the Administration and the legislature to give us our demands. Some people say that by obstructing classes we will be abusing the rights of students wanting to go to class. In reality, the opposite is true. By going to class these students are working for the tuition hike, which will increase the cost of education being paid by working people. The situation is similar to a strike in a factory. No workers have ever wonconcessions from the bosses without fighting. If workers allowed scabs to work, the boss would have no trouble breaking the strike. The issue at hand is not academic freedom. By going to class students are siding with the Administration and the ruling class which it serves, against the interests of UI students and the working people of the state. The freedom of scabs to go to class is directly opposed to our freedom from the tuition hike. (over)