The charge that Harvard University refused a scholarship to a young chemistry student because he was Jewish was denied here today by a spokesman of the university. The charge was made yesterday by Prof. Albert Sprague Coolidge, a member of the university’s chemistry department, testifying before a legislative committee studying proposals to bar racial and religious discrimination in Massachusetts.
“We know perfectly well that names ending in ‘berg’ and ‘stein’ have to be skipped by the board of selection of students for scholarship,” Professor Coolidge said. “The young candidate was unquestionably of superior intelligence. There was no question about his being entitled to receive the scholarship. “Discrimination in education,” he added,” was depriving the scientific fields of outstanding students.” He revealed that there is an understanding between the university authorities and scholarship donors which prevents the giving of scholarships, in some cases, to Jews.
Answering Prof. Coolidge’s charge, Assistant Dean Henry S. Dyer, who is chairman of the Harvard Committee on Scholarships, declared; “As far as I am concerned there is no tacit understanding between scholarship donors and the committee I am on. Prof. Coolidge will have to clarify his case.”
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