Letter from George M. Modlin to Benjamin Berkofsky

Letter from George M. Modlin to Benjamin Berkofsky

This document is a letter that was sent on March 13, 1967, from President George M. Modlin to Benjamin Berkofsky. It was written in response to a letter Berkofsky previously sent. In his original letter, Berkofsky claimed that the university’s faculty hiring process was prejudiced against Jewish people; Modlin refuted this claim. He explained that Berkofsky’s letter was "the first of its kind" because the University of Richmond’s faculty, student body, friends, and supporters come from all faiths, religions, and denominations and the university is proud of its "long tradition of academic and religious freedom." In addition, there was a building on campus given by a Jewish family, there were two Jewish fraternities, there was an annual Jewish "Lecturer-in-Residence," and Jewish people have been invited to campus as students and speakers. Therefore, the faculty opening in piano, though not given to Berkofsky’s son, was given to "the best man available to us."

Letter from George M. Modlin to Benjamin Berofsky, 13 March 1967, RG 6.2.4.3 Box 2 Folder 18, University Archives, Virginia Baptist Historical Society.

1967-03-13

English

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Richmond (Va.)