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N.Y. State Legislature Urged to Institute Inquiry into Racial Bias in Colleges

February 14, 1945
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Resolutions calling for a legislative investigation of the charges that discrimination based on race, religion or national origin is practiced in the admission of students to tax-exempt non-sectarian colleges and professional schools in the state of New York were introduced last night in the State Legislature by a number of Assemblymen.

At the same time, several hundred graduates in dentistry at Columbia University, observing Alumni Day at Bard Hall there, requested, by a unanimous vote, that the American Dental Association purge its education council of every one supporting the report of Dr. Harlan Horner proposing selection of dental students by racial or geographic origin. “The Horner report is contrary to the principles of Americanism and the principles of education which base college admissions on ability rather than on nationality, race on religion,” the resolution of the alumni said. “This report outrages American standards of academic freedom and it is detrimental to dental education.”

Dr. Frederick Birnberg, Alumni Day chairman, told reporters that “for years there have been rumors of efforts to establish a quota system for dental students, restricting Jewish students, and Columbia does have a quota on Jewish students at present, despite official denials of it.” He said the medical school limit is “10 to 12 per cent Jewish students.” There are considerably more in the dental school.

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