DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Students for a Democratic Society, Herrnstein lecture, February-June, 1972 | 1972-03-05 Des Moines Register Article: 'Cancels U of I Class to Protest Action on Speech'

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

1972-03-05 Des Moines Register Article: 'Cancels U of I Class to Protest Action on Speech'

"Cancels U of I Class to Protest Action on Speech" by a Staff Writer

IOWA CITY, IA. -- A University of Iowa history professor announced Saturday that he is canceling a Monday class here as a "small symbolic protest" of the way university officials have reacted to what he called "a premeditated attack on academic freedom."

John B. Henneman, an associate professor of history at the U of I, said he called off a Monday history class as a way of registering "my strong feelings" about official university action before and after a visit Feb. 25 by controversial Harvard psychology professor Richard J. Herrnstein. 

The Harvard professor's scheduled lecture was called off when he refused to deliver his speech to a audience filled with hecklers. The campus student group known as the Worker-Student Alliance (WSA) sponsored the protest, charging Herrnstein to be racist.
 
On Friday, U of I officials announced WSA had been stripped of its recognition as a student group because it been determined the group actually was a front for Student for a Democratic Society (SDS) which had been banned from campus last year. Nonrecognition status for both groups expires Apr. 7.

Henneman called the U of I action a "meaningless gesture, one that does not come to grips with the real issue.  
"This was a premeditated attack on academic freedom -- the worst crime that can be committed on a university campus," Henneman said.

The U of I professor said university officials -- most notably Provost Ray Heffner who is in charge during the absence of President Williard L. Boyd who is out of town for a conference -- should have taken a stand against the scheduled protest of Herrnstein's visit before the incident itself. 

"It would have done a great deal for the morale of the faculty if the provost would have taken it upon himself to make a strong statement on academic freedom before the Herrnstein incident," Henneman said.

Henneman said he expressed his feelings to his history class on Friday and announced there would be no class on Monday. When asked if he thought his action to cancel would get him in trouble with U of I officials, Henneman replied: 

"It seems inconceivable that there would be fuss over this after worse things happen on this campus." 

******
Des Moines Sunday Register
Mar. 5, 1972

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"Cancels U of I Class to Protest Action on Speech" by a Staff Writer IOWA CITY, IA. -- A University of Iowa history professor announced Saturday that he is canceling a Monday class here as a "small symbolic protest" of the way university officials have reacted to what he called "a premeditated attack on academic freedom." John B. Henneman, an associate professor of history at the U of I, said he called off a Monday history class as a way of registering "my strong feelings" about official university action before and after a visit Feb. 25 by controversial Harvard psychology professor Richard J. Herrnstein. The Harvard professor's scheduled lecture was called off when he refused to deliver his speech to a audience filled with hecklers. The campus student group known as the Worker-Student Alliance (WSA) sponsored the protest, charging Herrnstein to be racist. On Friday, U of I officials announced WSA had been stripped of its recognition as a student group because it been determined the group actually was a front for Student for a Democratic Society (SDS) which had been banned from campus last year. Nonrecognition status for both groups expires Apr. 7. Henneman called the U of I action a "meaningless gesture, one that does not come to grips with the real issue. "This was a premeditated attack on academic freedom -- the worst crime that can be committed on a university campus," Henneman said. The U of I professor said university officials -- most notably Provost Ray Heffner who is in charge during the absence of President Williard L. Boyd who is out of town for a conference -- should have taken a stand against the scheduled protest of Herrnstein's visit before the incident itself. "It would have done a great deal for the morale of the faculty if the provost would have taken it upon himself to make a strong statement on academic freedom before the Herrnstein incident," Henneman said. Henneman said he expressed his feelings to his history class on Friday and announced there would be no class on Monday. When asked if he thought his action to cancel would get him in trouble with U of I officials, Henneman replied: "It seems inconceivable that there would be fuss over this after worse things happen on this campus." ****** Des Moines Sunday Register Mar. 5, 1972