DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Students for a Democratic Society, Herrnstein lecture, February-June, 1972 | 1972-03-06 Daily Iowan Article: 'SDS 'front' banned here'

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Students for a Democratic Society, Herrnstein lecture, February-June, 1972

1972-03-06 Daily Iowan Article: 'SDS 'front' banned here'

SDS 'FRONT' BANNED HERE
 WSA leader says UI using 'double standard' 

By STEVE MOORE Dayly Iowan Staff Writer 
  Temporary withdrawal of recognition of the University of Iowa Worker-Student Alliance (WSA) is a denial of the group's right to free speech, a member of WSA said Sunday night. 
 Simon J. Piller, 20, 321 South Johnson Street, one of the leaders of the local chapter of WSA, charged that the UI has a double standard concerning the right to free speech. 
 ''There is so much concern for Mr. Herrnstein's rights, but now we aren't allowed to have rooms and table space in the union, ''Piler said. 
 Richard J. Hernrnstein, a Harvard psychologist who had been scheduled to speak Feb. 26, refused to do so after threats of disruption from hecklers, including memebers of the WSA. 
 Piller's comment came after the withdrawal of recognition of WSA as an official student organization by the university provost's office last Friday. 
 Asserting that WSA is the same as SDS, the provost's office has applied the same ban to WSA as is currently on SDS: non-recognition until April 7. The ban means WSA cannot use any university facilities. 
 Piller confirmed Sunday night that WSA and SDS are the same, and said ''The university administration has known this for a long time and is using the reaction to the Herrnstein incident to assert this and place the ban on us.''
 ''Herrnstein has a scientific veneer that adds legitimacy and credibility to what he's saying, but his theories are clearly racist,'' he said. 
 Piller said the original intent of the WSA was to ''confront, challenge and question'' Herrnstein about theories he expressed in his article which recently appeared in the Atlantic. 
 ''We had no intention of stopping the speech or shouting him down,'' Piller said. 
 Piller said that as far as he knows, WSA's right to leaflet outside the Union is still intact, but did not know if the group would do so. 
 Student Body Vice Pres. Michael C. Vance said Sunday night that the university can't revoke WSA's reconition because ''that's a matter that has to be left up to the Student Senate.'' 
 Vance said that even the Code of Student Life, which is recognized by the University, says that only senate can revoke the recognition of student organizations. 
 He added that he did not know of any plans for senate action on WSA, but that they ''might protest the administration's ban on WSA.''

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SDS 'FRONT' BANNED HERE WSA leader says UI using 'double standard' By STEVE MOORE Dayly Iowan Staff Writer Temporary withdrawal of recognition of the University of Iowa Worker-Student Alliance (WSA) is a denial of the group's right to free speech, a member of WSA said Sunday night. Simon J. Piller, 20, 321 South Johnson Street, one of the leaders of the local chapter of WSA, charged that the UI has a double standard concerning the right to free speech. ''There is so much concern for Mr. Herrnstein's rights, but now we aren't allowed to have rooms and table space in the union, ''Piler said. Richard J. Hernrnstein, a Harvard psychologist who had been scheduled to speak Feb. 26, refused to do so after threats of disruption from hecklers, including memebers of the WSA. Piller's comment came after the withdrawal of recognition of WSA as an official student organization by the university provost's office last Friday. Asserting that WSA is the same as SDS, the provost's office has applied the same ban to WSA as is currently on SDS: non-recognition until April 7. The ban means WSA cannot use any university facilities. Piller confirmed Sunday night that WSA and SDS are the same, and said ''The university administration has known this for a long time and is using the reaction to the Herrnstein incident to assert this and place the ban on us.'' ''Herrnstein has a scientific veneer that adds legitimacy and credibility to what he's saying, but his theories are clearly racist,'' he said. Piller said the original intent of the WSA was to ''confront, challenge and question'' Herrnstein about theories he expressed in his article which recently appeared in the Atlantic. ''We had no intention of stopping the speech or shouting him down,'' Piller said. Piller said that as far as he knows, WSA's right to leaflet outside the Union is still intact, but did not know if the group would do so. Student Body Vice Pres. Michael C. Vance said Sunday night that the university can't revoke WSA's reconition because ''that's a matter that has to be left up to the Student Senate.'' Vance said that even the Code of Student Life, which is recognized by the University, says that only senate can revoke the recognition of student organizations. He added that he did not know of any plans for senate action on WSA, but that they ''might protest the administration's ban on WSA.''