An unofficial proposal said to have been discussed at a meeting of the Senior Council of Syracuse University providing for the limitation of Jewish students, there, was vigorously denounced by the Chancellor, Charles Wesley Flint, today’
All the members of the Senior Council have been ordered to appear before the Chancellor tomorrow morning.
Commenting on the report, Chancellor Flint declared that “widespread report of this unfortunate and ill-advised proposal of the Council will do more harm to the University than many years can offset. I would not dignify such a report with a statement”.
Later Chancellor Flint stated that he has no definite information that such a proposal had actually been made “and if such action was taken, it is so ridiculous from the standpoint of administration that he did not consider it worthy of comment. No limitation of the number of Jewish students will be tolerated in the institution.
Members of the Senior Council admitted that the subject was thoroughly discussed and that a committee had been appointed to report the student sentiment to the administration. And understanding was reached before the discussion, it was said, and it should not be included in the minutes of the meeting and should not have the “official” approval of the Council.
Members of the Council give as the reason for their desired discrimination against Jewish students an alleged lack of interest by Jewish students in athletics, except basketball and in social activities. Jews, had contributed to football, baseball, and creww success in some measure, but it was declared, the percentage was small.
About ten per cent. of the enrollment is Jewish. Among the former Jewish athletes at the University are Joe Alexander, all-American football player, A. H. Kallet, star football end, Harry Herbert, a gridiron star, whose back was broken in the Colgate game two years ago. Many Jewish students have been numbered among the University’s basketball stars. Many of the Jewish alumni too have attained prominence in the professional and business world.
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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.
