N.y.u. Moves Graduation Date to Avoid Shavuot Conflict

Officials of New York University, discovering that 1957 graduation exercises had inadvertently been scheduled for the first day of Shavuot, have moved the date by 24 hours as the only action that could be taken at this time, a University spokesman said today.

Dr. Carroll V. Newsom, University president, said that the school calendar for the 1956-57 academic year was set in the fall of 1955 with graduation exercises scheduled for the usual second Wednesday following the close of the examination period, June 5.

“Fourteen months later, in January, 1957, our attention was called to the fact that June 5 is a Jewish religious holiday,” Dr. Newsom said. The University then called the New York Board of Rabbis for advice.

Dr. Newsom said that after these consultations, the date was shifted from June 5 to June 6, adding that although June 6 also is a religious holiday, “the change did accommodate some persons. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to resolve the entire problem.”

This statement was a reference to the fact that Reform Jews do not observe the second day of Shavuot. although Orthodox and Conservative Jews do. No information was available as to how many of the estimated 2,000 Jewish candidates for degrees among the 6,000 graduating seniors would take part in the exercises on June 6.

Explaining that it was “impossible to make any other change,” because of the commitments for equipment, services, faculty members “and guests of outstanding distinction whose presence is an essentials part of commencement ceremonies,” Dr. Newsom said that provisions have been made to excuse and to “recognize in absentia candidates for degrees who indicate inability to attend the exercises because of religious obligations.”

He said that in addition “such candidates will be invited to participate” in the 1958 commencement exercises.