Jewish Students Launch Drive for Judaic Studies Departments in City University System

A city-wide campaign to institute Judaic Studies Departments in all branches of the City University (CUNY) system is being launched by a group of Jewish students here. The effort is spearheaded by the Jewish Student Union of City College and coordinated by the New York Union of Jewish Students. According to Jonathan Braun, president of the New York Union of Jewish Students, the purpose of the campaign is to “alert students to the power they possess in making Judaic studies a reality and to pressure the various college administrations into establishing permanent Judaic Studies Departments.” During the present fall semester, Judaic studies courses are available at City College, Queens College and Brooklyn College on an inter-disciplinary basis.

However, due to student and faculty efforts at Brooklyn College, the Board of Education last week authorized the institution to establish a separate Judaic Studies Department next Fall, offering a major and a degree in this field. According to reports there is a strong possibility that Queens College may soon be authorized to establish a similar department. Campaign efforts therefore will be directed mainly at City College. As part of the campaign, 20,000 stickers declaring. “Work for Jewish Studies” are being distributed at all branches of CUNY. Leaders of the drive are also urging students to join student-faculty committees on Judaic Studies at their respective colleges where they can work from within to have the Department instituted.