Students and faculty members of the City University were advised today by 10 major Jewish organizations of their right to refuse to answer a City University of New York questionnaire about their race, religion and ethnic background. The joint statement came in the wake of a CUNY request, addressed to the university’s instructional staff and student body, to fill out forms listing their creed, color and national origin.
The CUNY “Confidential Student Information Form” also requested information on family income, the number of persons supported by that income, and parents’ educational and work background. The form included six questions to determine students’ reactions to “open admissions” and its effect on the university’s academic standards.
In a foreword to the 29 questions contained in the form, David E. Lavin, Director of Research of CUNY, advised the students that the “information in this confidential questionnaire is collected for a continuing study of students and their experiences on the various campuses of the City University,” information which will be used to “achieve a better understanding” of how students are affected by their college experience, and “to help the university in developing programs” to better serve the students.
Lavin said the information requested was for purposes of “subsequent follow-up studies,” and that “the data will be used for statistical purposes only,” and answers “would be held in the strictest professional confidence.” The CUNY questionnaire is similar to one introduced at Brooklyn College late last year but withdrawn after Jewish and non-Jewish campus and off-campus groups protested that the questionnaire was “a blatant invasion of privacy.”
Referring to the CUNY questionnaire, the Jewish groups declared that such inquiries raise “the most serious questions regarding the invasion of privacy and the possibility of serious misuse of information for discriminatory ends. Legally no individual can be required to give such information and may not be coerced to do so.” Expressing concern that many students and faculty members had not been made aware of this right, the Jewish organizations declared:
“We demand that the City University meet its responsibility fully and publicly to inform all students and faculty that no penalty can be imposed for such exercise of their rights.” The statement was signed by the American Jewish Committee, New York Chapter; American Jewish Congress, New York Metropolitan Council; Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith; American Zionist Federation, Brooklyn Division; Brooklyn Jewish Community Council; Rabbinical Board of Flat-bush; Rabbinical Council of America, NY Affairs Committee; United Zionists-Revisionists; NY Board of Rabbis and Queens Jewish Community Council.
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