A Western Michigan University Dean has apologized for anti-Semitic statements appearing in a pamphlet issued by his department but emphasized that he had no control over the content of the material.
The pamphlet was entitled, “A Soldier’s Life–the Civil War Experience of Ben C. Johnson.” It was published by the School of Graduate Studies of the university. It was criticized by Philip Slomovitz, editor of the Jewish News of Detroit.
Dr. George G. Mallinson, the Dean, declared in a letter to the Jewish News here that he had objected to inclusion of the material “on the grounds that it would be offensive.” Dr. Brown, the editor, disagreed and indicated that his attitude “was not consistent with historical principles.”
Dr. Mallinson, who stressed that he was a scientist and not a historian, said he had objected to the anti-Semitic references when he edited galley proofs on the brochure and that he had sent a covering letter to Dr. Brown. In the letter, he said, he had indicated his belief that the anti-Semitic references did not add anything to the pamphlet and that their elimination would not affect its historical value.
Dr. Mallinson stated that he felt such expressions were “not representative of the Jewish contribution to the Civil War and, from a contemporary standpoint, not desirable.” He added that he wanted to apologize to any persons “for any offensive elements of the document” ant that it was not his desire, “whether the School of Graduate Studies was directly or indirectly responsible, to have its name associated with difficulties such as these.”
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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.
