Monro Attacks NDEA Oath, Notes Conflicts With Ideals

Speaking as Dean of Harvard College, John U. Monro '34, has stated that the loyalty oath provisions of the NDEA are "180 degrees out of phase with what we are trying to do here" and "cut at the heart of our operation in the College."

Monro, former Director of Financial Aids, said he would not want to administer the oaths and would be "seriously disappointed" if the College were ever to require them as a condition for loans.

He attacked the oaths as "highly offensive to everything we stand for" and emphasized that "we assume our students emerge from their education as dedicated American citizens."

"Our method of education is not the method of oaths," he continued, "or the method of restriction of belief. We depend on free--not inhibited--inquiry."

One aspect of the NDEA controversy which has disturbed Monro is the right of a student who is willing to take the oath to receive money under the program. He has concluded, however, that in this case "the responsibility of the institution overrides the right of the individual."

Monro commented on the College's "obligation to take a stand" on the loyalty requirement and said that a strong registration of opinion from students and "all sorts of universities" is necessary to eventuate repeal of the requirement.

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences will meet tomorrow to consider the Committee on Educational Policy's proposal to urge the Corporation not to use NDEA loan funds until the "disclaimer" loyalty affidavit is removed from the Act. At other universities, governing boards have ended their institutions' participation after similar faculty actions.