THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER 0".““18 ’8 .IE'IEVDS HSH'I'IOO 'I’IEINNIHD Val. LXXVI Grime“, Iowa, Friday,May 2, I969 No. 24 FLAG-FLIP MOPS, FLAP FOLLOWS COLLEGE COMMUNITY CONFERS 0N CRISIS An estimated 200 persons, Including lame 25 iaculty members and President Glenn Leggett, attended a ireewheeling meeting in the South Lounge last Thurs» day (Apr. 24) to discuss the inverted flag incident earlier in the day. At the meeting’s outset at ll) o'clock, junior Tom Thomas read an explanatory statement, which was printed tor the protesters by President Leggett on Frl— day. Ted Glick then explained the day’s events and threw the meeting open to comments from the crowd, Various I: A referendum regarding flying the college flag at halt-mast has been scheduled for Monday. (See story on Page 5). 2:: opinions regarding the flag inversion were voiced, many of them in the form of emotional outbursts. “Flying the ilag upside-down is not going to do a damn bit of good to save the 30,000 men who have died in Viet< ham," argued senior Pat Kennedy “1 think it was ridiculous!" Robert D. Grey, instructor in political science, gave an impassioned criticism oi “acts that needlessly attend people, just because they can be morally jus- titled." Swmging his arms in the air as he spoke, Grey told the group, “I'm get- ting awiully tired of being asked to support any symbolic nct — whether it's strippers or inverted flags!” Sophomore Jim Spell, who introduced himself as a member at “the silent majority,” defended the protestors and concluded, “I‘m ashamed I haven’t done anything against the war." Senior James W. Wheat, In. whose father is an Air Force oificel', rose to condemn the protest and say that he had called the police when he saw the inverted nag ”That damn piece of Cloth you're talk- ing about means more to me than any damn one of you!” Wheat shouted. “I called the police and I’ll call them again tomorrow if the flag is turned upsidedownl" “I called the police because I know I have a bad temper and other people have a bad temper," Wheat continued. “If I hadn't called them there would have been a damn big list fight," Wheat Said that when he first Called the police station he was told to call the deans. ”When I Called Dean (5. Eugene) Thompson, he told me to call the police,” Wheat said. “You can go and demonstrate all you want by carrying placards and march- ing around, but keep your hands off the flag because that’s my symboll" Wheat exclaimed as he left the room. “The autonomy, independence and power of such institutions as Grinltell is important in iighting the structure of society,” Said Professor Alan R. Jones (History). “You have to be very DISCUSSION— (Continued Page 2, Column 1) Students Meet President leggei‘t: "I Don't Approve " Twenty students met with College president Glenn Leggett late Thursday afternoon (Apr. 24) to discuss with him *an incident earlier in the day during which the American flag was flown up- side down by students and then removed by Grinnell Police Chief Bill Peters. The students who visited Leggett were led by sophomore J. Theodore (Ted) Glick, who, with another student, had in- verted the tlag earlier as a protest to the Vietnam War. Some of the students sprawled barefoot on the carpeted floor ot the president’s oiilce as they explain- ed the incident to Leggett and asked for his reaction. “i guess 1 don’t approve at it," Leggett told the students “I thlnk there are all sorts of ways to indicate your teelings other than this. That’s my moral judgment." A student then asked Leggett it he tell the Vietnam War is moral. “I’m tired oi the Vietnam War," Leggett replied. “I wish we‘d get out of it. If we don‘t get out of this war soon the whole nation will be in trouble. it already is in trouble, “But that ilag represents not only the Vietnam War,” Leggelt continued. “I lost 35 or my classmates because they defended that flag by righting a country that killed 6 million Jews." Earlier last Week Glick announced that he would turn in his dralt Card to College Chaplain Dennis W, Haas in Herrick Chapel on May 1, a national draft resistance day One of the stu- dents asked Leggett to attend the rally and speak in support of Glick's actions. “I can't. do that because I'd be speak- ing tor the whole college,” Leggett said. “I'm an agent of the trustees, the iac— ulty, the students, the alumni. and the whole college community. I try to rep resent them all." Glick asked Leggett if he could take a stand on the war by speaking at the rally alter saying he was not represenb ing the college. “Isn't it possible {or me to personally admire your Courage without agreeing LEGGETT— (Continued Page 3. Column 4) COPS ON CAMPUS COP COLLEGE COLORS A major controversy erupted on cam< pus last weekend when two students in- verted the American flag on central campus to protest the Vietnam War and police came to Campus and removed the flag. The flag was turned upsiderdown and flown at halt-mast at around 2:45 Thurs- day aiternoon (April 24L Sophomore J. Theodore (Ted) Glick said that he in- verted the flag with the help of sopho- more Jeitrey er Gordon as a protest to the Vietnam War, The inverted ilag is an international symbol or distress most irequently used by ships in danger. Glick said in a state- ment released Friday that ”the inversion indicates the truly international distress or a nation that blindly continues its course in Vietnam and boasts Of all at- fluent society while millions suffer.” Gordon, in a letter to the 5&3, Called E College Goes to Town An estimated 250 students, resident advisers, and faculty members took their views on the flag incident and the Viet- nam War to residents or Grinnell last weekend. Some of the members or the College community approached Grillnellians on downtown Streets, while others went door- to-door to discuss the issues. The eitort to communicate directly with residents or the town was suggested by college Chaplain Dennis Haas during a discussion in South Lounge on Thurs- day night. Several students reported incidents or harassment while they canvassed. Sopho- more Lynda R. Lamberth Said that one man in a business suit spit in her face when she tried to talk with him. Sophomore Henry C, Scheit said that a pickup truck swerved and nearly in: him, sophomore Mark Kass, and resident advisers Dennis Donham and Tom Merle, as they were crossing a street Many students said they had diiilculty communicating with town residents who were attended by the flag incident and other recent protests on campus. Others said that some Grinnellians were Willing to talk with them, :: his action “an impulsive reaction meant with a more antagonistic rather than constructive motives” Shortly after the flag was inverted, A crowd ot about so persons gathered around the tlag pole. Several student: and faculty members argued that GliClx' should put the tlag bacli the way he found it. Others defended his action. Junior Roger Roe and sophomore Scott Hanson appeared at the scene and tried to turn the flag right-side up. Senior Al- bert Cloud prevented them from doing so by grabbing the rope, a witness told the SM}. A heated argument folIowed. “We almost duked it out,” a supporter of Click said. hiter about twenty minutes Grinnell Police Clllei Bill Peters appeared at tho cors— (Continued Page 3, Column 2)