Morris B. Abram was officially installed yesterday as president of Brandeis University and declared, in his inaugural address, that “here at Brandeis the students will be heard – so will the faculty and all other elements of the university.” Mr. Abram, a Rhodes scholar and lawyer who served both the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations and was formerly president of the American Jewish Committee, succeeded Dr. Abram L. Sachar. The latter had served as president of the Jewish-sponsored, non-sectarian university since its founding 20 years ago and is now chancellor.
Mr. Abram was invested with the academic hood of blue, designating the ancient Hebrew tribe of Dan, denoting a judge. Speaking before an audience of 2,500, he addressed himself to the most burning issue on American campuses today – student protests and student participation in university policy-making. “The right of students to protest seems to me to be a right and not a privilege.” Mr. Abram said. “The right of students, faculty or any one else to disrupt the learning process is no right at all. It is wrong. I will do everything I can to resist it. I reject the modern paeans to violence.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
