SDS Meeting Discusses Anti-Herrnstein Tactics

Harvard-Radcliffe SDS has begun a fall offensive against Richard J. Herrnstein, professor of Psychology, based on his article "I.Q." in a recent Atlantic Monthly.

At last Monday's meeting of Social Sciences 15, a course taught by Herrnstein, SDS members distributed leaflets outlining their complaints against Herrnstein's article. The leaflets' message was augmented by signs taped on the walls and slogans scrawled on the black-board.

Roger W. Brown, professor of Social Psychology, who teaches Soc Sci 15 with Herrnstein and gave Monday's lecture, said yesterday that, "the atmosphere was fairly tense--for me, disagreeably so." About five or six people asked a large number of questions which prevented him from finishing the lecture.

SDS members complained that Brown tried to shut off all questions about the possibly "racist" implications of Herrnstein's article.

Following the lecture, both Brown and Herrnstein stayed for over 40 minutes talking with students in a mild confrontation.

In his widely publicized article Herrnstein presented data which indicates that I.Q. tests are a good measure of intelligence. He also said that the average I.Q. of people holding high-paying and high prestige jobs is considerably higher than that of people holding lower prestige jobs. Then comes the crucial point; that "the differences between people, on the average and without regard to color, are 80 percent inherited."

At a meeting last night SDS formed a committee to collect data and write an article to refute Herrnstein's claim that I.Q. tests measure intelligence. The group also decided to continue to confront Herrnstein in class.