Silver, Alan

Alan “Buddy” Silver was born on January 3, 1914 in Rochester, NY. He attended Rutgers University from 1931 to 1935, where he witnessed the Bergel/Hauptmann incident firsthand. During this controversial period in the history of Rutgers University, Lienhard Bergel, a German Professor at the New Jersey College for Women (later to become Douglass College), was removed from his position by German Department Chair Friederich Hauptmann. Though the reason given for his firing was “incompetence,” Bergel believed that Haputmann had targeted him for his anti-Nazi sympathies.

Although Silver never studied under either professor, he became interested in the case because of his extracurricular involvement in the National Student League and the Targum newspaper.`In May 1935 he challenged Rutgers Dean of Men Fraser Metzger to open an investigation of Bergel's firing, threatening to contact the New Jersey State Legislature if his plea was ignored. Silver's ensuing meeting with College for Women President Robert C. Clothier led to the formation of the Special Trustees Committee to Investigate the Charges of Lienhard Bergel. Silver also contacted a World Telegram reporter and the American Civil Liberties Union about the case, bringing nationwide attention to the Bergel/Hauptmann affair. The investigation concluded with the committee upholding Hauptmann's decision.

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