The New York herald., 1922-09-20
ASK RACE AND COLOR
Also if Parents or Appli-
cant Has Made Any Name
Change.
INFORMATION FOR RECORD
Government, as Well as Uni
vcrsity Interested, II the
+. Word at Cambridge.

Word at Cambridge.
Special Dispatch 70 THE NEW YoaK Hnatp.
CAMBRIDGE. Mass. Sept. is.--Harvard
authorities refuse TO be worried bs
the charge that their new form OF
application for admission 10 the col.
lege Is another drive to keep out Jews
or those of other nationalitIes that they
believe do their institution no good.
This is the first time I'm two Gen.
turtles and a half that an applicant for
admission TO Harvard has been re-
quired to state his race and color as
well as his religious preference.
Also the student is requested to state
the birthplace of his father and mako
known what change, IL any, has beer
made in the family name or that OF
himself.
These questions are all new TO the
customary form Of application for ad-
mission to Harvard. and there are sew
eral others not Of such personal
nature.
Prof. Henry Pennypacker. chairman
OF the Committee on Admission, who is
in general charge of the wording of the
application blank, said to-day the In
tention In asking such intimate infor-
NATION was not so much as matter
OF record but for general information.
Similar questions. he added, were asked
by the Army and Navy as we'll as by
many big business houses. high schools
and secondary schools almost every
where.
Denies Antf-Jew Drive.
The appearance of the new applica-
tion blank and its pertinent questions
caused sensation. and although coll
lege opens Monday this was the prin-
cipal topic about Harvard to-day. Last
June President Lowell appointed a COM
mittee to study ways and means for
sitting students by other than scholar
ship tests, but no decision has yet been
reached. Sympathizers with the Jewish
race say no word from this committee
is necessary. that the committee on ad-
mission has done enough to bar any
students or group of students tho au-
thorities are desirous of keeping out
through the introduction of the new
application blank.
These presen. questions are said to be
aimed at the Jewish students, whose
proportion at the university Is greater
than that of any other race. Prof.
Charles II. Grandgent. chairman of the
special committee appointed by Presi-
dent Lowell. declared upon his appoint
ment late last June. consequently"
he added then, "the problem of re-
stricting Jews. II II is necessary to re-
strict, is the greatest"
The Inclusion OF the new queries Is not
anticipating the work of this committee
49, -.
by Prof. Grandgent, according to Prof
Tennypacker. The query with reference
to the change in the name of the appli-
cant either by himself or his parent Is
requested to be explained fully In a
parenthesis. There follows also the
question of asking the applicant TO state
the birthplace of his father.
Other questions which are new are:
What are your chief interests
whether connected with your school
work or outside of it?'
What sports or games do you espe-
cially lilse?"
TO what school organizations have
you belonged?"
What offices, If any. did you hold in
those organizations?"
why do you wish to come to Har-
rard?" (The committee will be CRATE
ful for a very careful answer to this
question.)
Prof. Pennypacker was asked whether
answers to the new questions were CON-
pusory. although the blank states plain
ly that applicants are required to an
swer the questions.
"Of course II Is desired he said
'that all the questions be answered
None is absolutely compulsory. Some
boy may say quite fairly that he does
not know what his religious preference
is. II is not compulsory that that ques-
ton be answered. but IL boy does no,
know whether his family changed Its
name or not that Is an element OF in.
formation about the boy. 1t may be
then there arc many other things about
his family he does not know
Would failure TO answer these ques-
tions at all constitute grounds for rejec-
ton for admission to the colege?"
NO. not at ALL" Prof. Pennypackei
answered.
Needed for Government.
Asked what the purpose Of the ques.
tions is. Prot Pennypacker replied that
they are intended TO get ampler IN
formation about the boys"
I'VE have had requests from the
United States Department OF Commerce.
he added. asking us this very informa-
ton about our students. We have been
unable to furnish the information. II
would be unfair to say that this has
anything to do with race discrimination
or the jewish question.
TT was done for the purpose of get
ting additional data. The forms were
decided upon last January. long before
this became matter OF newspaper dis.
cusslon."
Asked as 10 what possible value II
would be to any one to know whether
a bay had changed his name or whether
his parents had dcne so In view OF the
questions already asked about his race
color and religion. Prof. Pennypacker re-
piled:
when | was the head OF the Boston
Latin School l would frequently get
messages from colleges complimenting
the school for having produced such a
fine type OF scholar as so and so.
noticed the name and found myself un-
able to recognize II as belonging TO any
one Of my former students. II devel-
oped invariably that the boy upon grad
waiting from high school and entering
college had changed his name. IL Is
necessary for us. therefore, to know both
his new and his old name"
The information Is necessary also, he
declared. to give tho college an idea
OF boys family and background. .
This helps he said. in making allow
snces In disciplinary cases.
Tho committee on admission Is COM