Reaction to the Grand Jury Investigation on Higher Education
Restoring educational traditions central to American greatness provides the sure basis for strong families, prosperity and limited government for, by and of the people. Many people are in the dark about the God-rejecting worldview now being imposed upon captive student classrooms and as a result, they do not join in opposition.
It was my privilege to chair a Grand Jury for the Eleventh Judicial District of Iowa that investigated activities at Iowa State University and made several recommendations for changes in higher education. As noted in a previous blog*, the God-rejecting worldview in American education must be exposed.
"Ames, Iowa--(AP)--The Grand Jury wants 'moral pollution'… 'and defamation of our country' (in the Humanities curriculum) stopped" (Denver Post).
With a prestigious media network, political, religious and social studies courses, statewide extension offices, and an adult education outreach, universities possessed (and still possess) immense power to shape public opinion. The president of the university and campus radicals did everything they could to discredit the Grand Jury's work. Initially, however, news of the Presentment was unimpeded. The university president and all members of the Iowa Board of Regents except one were out of the state during Christmas break when the Presentment became public.
Except for the coverage in the Des Moines Register and a few radical student publications, most news reports were accurate. Those who were critical were very spirited in their objections. A January 8, 1969, Des Moines Register headline read, "ISU President Lashes Out at 'Distorted' Report by Jury." Later, the Iowa State University Press published a book for the Iowa Civil Liberties Union entitled Freedom in Iowa. This publication showered ISU President Robert Parks and the liberal presidents of the other two universities in Iowa with honors and attacked the work and reputation of several Iowa leaders, past and present, including myself.
The Grand Jury Presentment itself was well documented. One news article reported that the Iowa Civil Liberties Union had decided they would not sue the Grand Jury. Another paper reported that an ongoing effort had failed to get the new judge, Harvey Uhlenhopp, serving the Eleventh Judicial District, to dismiss the Presentment. Within two years, Judge Uhlenhopp was elevated to the Iowa Supreme Court.
I was concerned that some reporters and editors would misrepresent the Grand Jury Presentment. Consequently, reporters were told that I would respond to inquiries in writing only, and this brought their interest to a halt. I personally received approximately one hundred letters from citizens, all of whom praised the jury's work.
I was later told that an Iowa State University administrative vice president was briefing the incoming extension course attendees and denigrating the work of the jury. Eventually, a county extension officer attending one of the on-campus short courses stood up and strongly criticized the vice president's presentation. His practice of criticizing the jury report ended.
*http://davidanorris.posterous.com/the-healing-of-citizen-paralysis
For more information or to purchase Restoring Education Central to American Greatness:
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http://www.amazon.com/Restoring-Education-Greatness-Principles-Liberated/dp/1...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/restoring-education-david-a-norris/1103308053...
For previous blog entries on similar topics, simply go to this site and scroll down:
http://davidanorris.posterous.com/
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