Reviewing Policies

These methods are not speedy, and it usually takes about three months to review one school's policies, and to put into effect the necessary changes.

Hawkes feels that the cooperation of colleges in opening their records has been excellent and has aided in achieving the goals of the law.

Even though the composition of the student bodies may not have changed noticeably, the enforcement of the law is "building an affirmative climate for youth," and is getting rid of discriminatory thinking in our own minds, he said. It has relieved the "tension created by fears of discrimination."

Laws against discrimination in employment, places of public accommodation and public housing, and because of age-against workers between the ages of 45 and 64--also are in effect in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts F.E.P.C. of 1946 was patterned directly after the New York State Ives-Quinn Law, the first such law in the country. It makes discrimination in employment an illegal practice. As amended in 1950, this act makes Massachusetts the first state in the country to try to solve the problems of discrimination against the older worker.

Management groups, real estate, interests, and associations of employers, opposed the passage of the original bill. They were afraid that workers of different races, colors, creeds, or national origins, could not work together harmoniously.

First Attempt Falls

An attempt had been made to pass an F.E.P.C. bill in 1945, but it had been defeated. However, the Governor's Committee on Racial and Religious Understanding appointed by Leverett Saltonstall '14 in 1948--led the fight and another bill was introduced and passed the next year.

A three-member commission enforces the law, and is authorized to receive and investigate complaints, and to initiate investigations against employers whom they suspect of discriminatory practices.

By November 1 of last year the Commission had received or initiated 751 complaints or investigations of employment discrimination. In their annual report to the legislature, the commission states that of "these matters 438 have been closed after the discriminatory practice complained of or another...uncovered during investigation has been eliminated as a result of the conciliation procedure."

As a last resort the commission may always go to court and get a "cease and desist" order to back up its decision.