Polish Liberal Educators Balk at “ghetto Benches”

SYMPATHY WITH JEWISH STUDENTS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST “GHETTO BENCHES” IN THE UNIVERSITIES IS SPREADING AMONG LIBERAL EDUCATORS.

IN LWOW, PROF. KULCZYNSKI, RECTOR OF LWOW UNIVERSITY, HAS FLATLY REFUSED ENDEK DEMANDS THAT THE BENCHES BE INTRODUCED. INAUGURATING THE ACADEMIC YEAR, THE RECTOR CONDEMNED TERRORISM, DECLARING IT WAS “DISGRACING AND HARMING SCIENCE AND MORALS.” HIS STAND BROUGHT ENDEK STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE CITY’S STREETS, WITH PARTICIPANTS SHOUTING SLOGANS AGAINST HIM, JEWS AND UKRAINIANS.

TWO PROFESSORS IN WARSAW SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO DEMONSTRATED THEIR SYMPATHY WITH JEWISH STUDENTS. PROF. SNITZ, AGED INSTRUCTOR IN THE STOMATOLOGICAL ACADEMY, JOINED HIS JEWISH STUDENTS IN STANDING WHEN THEY REFUSED TO OCCUPY THE “GHETTO BENCHES” PROVIDED FOR THEM. “IF MY STUDENTS WON’T SIT,” HE DECLARED, “I WILL ALSO STAND.” THE AGED PROFESSOR REMAINED STANDING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LECTURE.

PROF. KAWEL, OF THE TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL, HAS REJECTED ENDEK DEMANDS THAT JEWISH STUDENTS BE FORBIDDEN TO STAND DURING LECTURES RATHER THAN OCCUPY THE “GHETTO BENCHES.” HE DECLARED THE STUDENTS COULD NOT BE FORCED TO USE THE SPECIAL SEATS.

MEANWHILE, PRESSURE AGAINST JEWS CONTINUED IN OTHER EDUCATIONAL QUARTERS. JEWISH APPLICANTS TO THE STATE TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL AT LWOW WERE INFORMED THAT JEWS AND GREEK CATHOLICS WOULD NOT BE ADMITTED. JEWISH PUPILS IN ALL LUBLIN STATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHO PARTICIPATED IN LAST TUESDAY’S ANTI-GHETTO PROTEST STRIKE WERE ORDERED NOT TO RETURN TO SCHOOL PENDING DECISION OF THE AUTHORITIES ON DISCIPLINARY MEASURES. THE SAME SITUATION WAS REPORTED PREVAILING IN A NUMBER OF OTHER PROVINCIAL SCHOOLS. ONE WARSAW SECONDARY SCHOOL HAS REFUSED ADMISSION TO 100 JEWISH PUPILS ON THE SAME GROUND.