Action UIowa Task Force
MISINFORMATION
Action UIowa Task Force is committed to clarifying misinformation and upholding the integrity of the organization and the students who execute its mission. The following are false statements made by members of the Iowa GOP at the House Government Oversight Committee hearings (February 2, 2021 & March 2, 2021) along with the facts correcting the misinformation.
FALSE
“Frank Boksa was sending out… an email to the entire U Iowa College of Dentistry… He goes on to allege, as one of the organizers of the protest on Friday that took place, that I want to emphasize this event has the full support of the Deans and many faculty members.”
- Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, Iowa House Government Oversight Committee meeting on February 2, 2021.
FALSE
“...at least some of the organizers of Friday’s protest were protesting the fact that a student’s first amendment violation rights weren’t punished.”
- Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, Iowa House Government Oversight Committee meeting on February 2, 2021.
FALSE
“I have personally a massive problem with professors on the clock… using their official capacity to participate in an event that is attempted to intimidate, in my opinion, saying that you didn’t get punished for a blatant violation of your first amendment rights and then holding a protest of such, is an intimidation of said students.
- Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, Iowa House Government Oversight Committee meeting on February 2, 2021.
“Professor involvement in protests against other students on the taxpayer dime…. professors of any political stripes, while they are on the clock participating in protests that are specifically against a student they themselves would be potentially responsible for teaching.”
- Iowa House Government Oversight Committee meeting on March 2, 2021.
FALSE
“I’ve heard from the students that this protest was at least partially organized against.... They were like ‘oh my gosh I was vindicated, everyone is acknowledging my first amendment rights were violated… then I’ve got professors participating in a protest of the violation of my first amendment rights not being punished.’”
- Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, Iowa House Government Oversight Committee meeting on February 2, 2021.
FALSE
*reading a text message received from a dental student *
“The 3rd and 4th year students who are walking out will be abandoning their patients. Patients will be forced to reschedule... Do you know what privilege is? It is forcing a patient in need to accommodate your need to protest during their appointment because you are mad that people think differently than you do.”
-Rep. Steven Holt, Iowa House Government Oversight Committee meeting on February 2, 2021.
FALSE
“You heard rumors that your students were going to have a protest, going to walk out, yet you did [unidentifiable speech] you didn’t you turned your cheek and didn’t even look into it. Do you feel you should’ve looked into it? If you hear rumors your students are going to have a protest against [student name said here]”
- Iowa House Oversight Committee meeting on February 2, 2021.
