(Jewish Group) Stanford to investigate claims that it capped admissions for Jews in the 1950s

That Ivy League schools placed quotas on the number of Jews admitted to their classes through much of the first half of the 20th century has long been established as fact.

But the existence of a quota on Jewish students at Stanford University was never more than a rumor — at least not until the publication of a blog post written by a researcher last year.

Now the northern California school has appointed a task force to investigate the existence of a quota for Jews at the school during the 1950s. The task force will be led by Ari Kelman, a professor of education and Jewish studies. The group, which will begin its work this month, was tasked with researching the existence of quotas and recommending ways to “to enhance Jewish life on campus, including how best to address any findings resulting from the research on admissions practices.”

“It is important to face our history as an institution and fully understand the impact of past actions,” Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne said in a statement. “I am grateful to Dean Steinwert and Vice Provost Dunkley for leading this effort, and to those who have agreed to serve on this task force. Their work will help the university make a well-informed, deliberative response — making clear that bias in any form has no place in higher education or at Stanford.”

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