Fraternity-Testvériség, 1958 (36. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
1958-05-01 / 5. szám
8 FRATERNITY (First column indicates Direct Placement; second, Counseling and Placement Assistance, and includes those who were placed in cooperation with other organizations or societies and those whose placement was largely consummated before arrival in the United States; third, Interviewed or Counseled Only, and includes those who departed from Camp Kilmer before assistance could be arranged, those who had sub-standard qualifications, a few who had personality problems which made placement difficult, and some whose special talents tended to be applicable only to Hungarian institutions; and the fourth, or final, column indicates the total in each professional field.) It would be impossible to give a full list of American institutions which deserve credit and appreciation for their assistance. But special recognition is due the Rockefeller Foundation which has provided substantial support for the Academy’s program, and the American Council for Emigres in the Professions (ACEP) which on a continuing basis has worked closely with the Academy’s staff. The ACEP maintains offices at 62 West 45th Street in New York City and continues to offer assistance in placing qualified emigres. During a period of shortage of scientific and academic manpower in the United States, it was particularly gratifying to see that some 140 persons were accepted at the graduate level by more than 35 universities across the country. Although most of these were financially assisted by the universities concerned, the Academy awarded 18 fellowships supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. In addition, 50 refugees considered of special academic or research promise attended English language courses arranged by the Academy in cooperation with Rutgers University and later at New York University and other institutions. Although there was great variation in the facility with which fluency in English was acquired, in most instances the 8- to 10-week language course enabled the refugee to assume a research position without significant difficulty in communication. Teaching responsibilities, of course, required additional language preparation. At the undergraduate level the Institute of International Education, with the cooperation of Bard College, St. Michaels, and others, conducted English language courses for 660 Hungarian students. In all, nearly 800 undergraduate students who arrived from Hungary after the October Revolution are now attending some 300 to 400 American colleges and universities. This has been made possible through the good offices and assistance of the individual institutions, the World University Service and the Institute of International Education. Well over 600 of these students are pursuing engineering, science and medicine at various undergraduate levels. If but a fraction of these Hungarian students follow in the footsteps of the Tellers, Von Neumanns and Szent-Györgyis, their contribution to this country will be incalculable. However, unless financial aid is forthcoming, many promising students will be unable to pursue their academic training further. It is hoped that appropriate support will be found for these potential scientists and future citizens of the United States. The philosophy of the Academy’s program is not to accord a special advantage to the newly arrived refugee scientist or engineer, but rather to eliminate some of the special obstacles confronting the refugee who arrives without resources, friends or contacts, and who often has no knowledge of the English language and lacks familiarity with the pro
