Aj Congress Asks College Head to Reprimand Author.of Biased Article

The American Jewish Congress has called on Joseph Murray, president of Queens College, to reprimand the author of an article two weeks ago on Forest Hills in the student newspaper “Voice of Seek” which charged that “once again the white bigots are predominantly Jews.” In a telegram.

Theodore J. Kolish, chairman of the AJ Congress’ New York Metropolitans Council, urged Dr. Murphy “to make sure that officials of the Queens College SEEK program are meeting their responsibilities to prevent reckless charges–charges that can only inflame an already tense controversy.”

He declared: “We find it disturbing that the SEEK program, which we have supported as an avenue of opportunity for needy students, should perpetrate racism and anti-Semitism.” The article in the SEEK student newspaper also stated: “Jews and other white imps from the Mayflower cannot decide where black people are to live.”

BLACK STUDENTS SAY ARTICLE UNFAIR

Meanwhile, six Black students in the SEEK program at the City University of New York, have also denounced the SEEK article In their two-page statement, the students–including the vice-president of the student government at City College Voice of SEEK and the vice-chairman of the education affairs committee of the City College student senate–deplored the article “which unfairly imputes to the entire Jewish people anti-Black racist sentiments in connection with opposition to a proposed low-income housing project in Forest Hills.”

Noting that George Hopkinson, the author of the article, was not a SEEK student, the statement declared that he “certainly does not speak for the over-whelming majority of those enrolled in SEEK.” The statement continued, “Racism in any guise is destructive to the perpetrator and victim alike. It is divisive to the community.” It concluded by calling upon “all students at all campuses to join together in common effort to overcome our common peril.”

TAKE STEPS TO HALT ANTI-SEMITISM

Kolish also protested the comment by William Sales, the Queens College SEEK director, at a hearing before the Assembly Task Force on Higher Education that “SEEK was created primarily for the integration of CUNY and is not the appropriate vehicle for the white poor.” Noting the “importance of public support for the SEEK program,” the Congress spokesman declared:

“We urge that you take steps immediately to assure the community that the SEEK program at Queens College is not contaminated by anti-Semitism and racist ideology.” SEEK was set up at City University to provide disadvantaged youths the opportunity to attend a senior college with a stipend (a maximum of $50 per week) and special counseling assistance.