Source for Newspaper: Dennis Ryerson, “Judge Wood cites value of law”, The Record.S, Friday, May 1st, 1970
Creator: Unknown
Subject: Sit-in Student Trials
Description: On May 1st, 1970, Dennis Ryerson posted an article in The Record newspaper after 16 youths were charged with violating a court injection by disrupting a meeting of the University of Northern Iowa’s student-faculty discipline committee on April 21st, 1970. The committee meeting was discussing a student sit-in at UNI President Maucker’s home on March 16th and 17th. The 16 youths charged were ordered to serve a 7-day sentence in jail beginning at 9am. The students claimed that there was injustice being done by the committee against the sit-in students and a demonstration was the only way to draw attention. Judge Blair C. Wood says “I don’t know whether you students are learning anything from these hearings, but I am learning a great deal” referring to the students taking a stand under oath and continuing to be dedicated to their principles and showing that they are willing to sacrifice their freedom for the individual rights and love for their fellow man. Judge Wood also pointed out that the youth were pushing other people around and shouting at others who were performing their duties. Wood proceeds to discuss the Code of Iowa and how it has greatly affected the youths lives without them being aware of its purpose. He explains that there are rules in place that allow people certain freedoms and claims the youth are taking away some of those freedoms by being violent towards people that may disagree with them. Wood later says the youth will be allowed to participate in a work-release program, but would be revoked if taken advantage of. Nine students were sentenced to a seven-day jail sentence in Black Hawk Community Jail. The students were only fed bread and water for the last three days of their sentence for refusing to obey a jailer.
Date: May 1st, 1970
