between Mr. Kass and Dean Metzger and Registrar Martin, the latter two are alleged to have said: “Rutgers got away from the old Dutch denominationalism years ago, and we do not wish it to become predominantly Jewish now. If 40 or 50 per cent of the Jews that apply were admitted, Rutgers would soon become like C.C.N.Y. The present ratio of Jews in Rutgers is about 15 per cent. That is a sufficiently high proportion, especially in view of the fact that the Jews comprise but 10 per cent of the population of the State.”
During the conference Mr. Kass asked the University officials to assume a case in which a Jewish student in the upper quarter of his class in preparatory school and a non-Jewish student who was in the lower three-quarters of his class, both applied for admission at a time when the so-called “Jewish quota” had been filled. “Which student would be admitted?” Mr. Kass asked. Dean Metzger’s surprising answer was, “The non-Jewish student.”
SCORES METZGER’S STATEMENT
The statement of Dean Metzger denying discrimination was roundly scored by Rabbi Julus Silberfeld of Temple B’nai Abraham and Rabbi Harry S. Jacobs of Young Israel Synagogue, this city. Rabbi Silberfeld said:
“It is bad enough that in our day and generation an institution of learning, which I understand is at least partly subsidized by the state from taxes collected from all the people, should exclude anybody on account of race or creed. But what aggravates the situation is the hypocritical attitude of the authorities of Rutgers. To cloak such discrimination with the mantle of undenominationalism, as Dean Metzger attempts to do, is certainly deserving of the severest censure.
“Suppose the largest number of best qualified students were Catholic. Should some of them be excluded on no other grounds than that their particular religious group would predominate? The same applies to Jews or any other race or creed. Such attitude is to be condemned in any university, and is certainly unworthy of a university which calls itself American.”
URGES INVESTIGATION
“Judging from incomplete reports of the alleged discrimination, I think a very thorough investigation of the matter should be undertaken at once, for if the charges are true, it is absolutely outrageous,” said Rabbi Jacobs. “It is inexcusable even in a privately endowed institution of learning to discriminate on racial grounds in admission of students, but it is absolutely unpardonable in a state endowed institution such as Rutgers.”
The New Jersy branches of the Independent Order Brith Sholom, Order Sons of Zion and B’nai Brith are planning to investigate the charges of discrimination at Rutgers. On Sunday Mr. Kass will meet with New Jersey B’nai Brith leaders at Elizabeth to discuss the matter.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
