New York State Body Hits Educational Bias, Suggests Legislative Curbs on Practice

The New York State Commission on a State University has approved tentatively a statement condemning the use of racial and religious quotas by institutions of higher learning and outlining specific legislation to prevent such discrimination in the future, it was reported here today, although the Commission has made no official announcement.

The Commission will recommend that the State Legislature adopt the following measures: bar public funds to any institution practicing discrimination and the Commissioner of Education to investigate complaints of discrimination and initiate inquiry into discriminatory practices. If discrimination were found the Commissioner would have the authority to take both persuasive and legal action to end the practice. Denominational and sectarian institutions would be exempt.

In a section of its statement which discusses anti-Semitic discrimination, the Commission says: “Studies of the staff of the commission reveal that some nonsectarian educational institutions have criteria of selection that appear to be different for Jewish and non-Jewish applicants. This inequality of treatment is indicated by the fact that a smeller proportion of applications are accepted from Jewish than from non-Jewish applicants front the same geographical areas. Furthermore, as the academic standing of the applicant decreases, increased preference is given to non-Jewish applicants.”