College Found 'Remarkable' for Good Jewish-Christian Relations

In a recent survey of Jewish students of the University and Radcliffe, the Social Relations Laboratory found that Harvard is a "community remarkable for its good Christian-Jewish relations." According to survey results, Jewish students here are very pleased with the attitude toward them held by College authorities and fellow students.

This attitude is in sharp contrast to that many of the students experience in their home towns, said Jackson Toby, research associate in the Laboratory who conducted the survey. He suggested several explanations. For one, most students here are away from home and the influence of their parents, who often urge them to pick their friends according to religion or social class.

Secondly, students pursue common goals, both curricular and non-curricular, which make religious differences unimportant. Thirdly, social clubs are less popular but more exclusive here than in many other universities.

Toby began his survey last October by sending 600 questionnaires to Jewish students. He received more than 450 replies, while some 50 people came in for interviews. These were held in an observation room with built-in microphones, and recorded on discs.

Group interviews were also tried with success. Toby held discussion sessions to make the students feel more at ease.

All answers were catalogued anonymously, and filed to compare with any future minority surveys the laboratory may make.

Toby has no immediate plans for using the information.