College Rejoins NDEA Program

Swarthmore College has re-joined the National Defense Education Act student loan program. One of the last major colleges to re-enter the NDEA program, Swarthmore based its decision on the repeal by Congress of the controversial disclaimer affidavit which required applicants to disclaim belief in any subversive organization.

Courtney Smith, president of Swarthmore, emphasized that Swarthmore's "participation should not be taken to imply approval of all the provisions of the Act." Smith said the decision to join was based "on the assumption that the new legislation will not be so interpreted or so administered as to limit freedom of inquiry or belief."