Education: Removing the Italian Welcome Mat

The notice posted at Italy's stately Park Avenue consulate general in New York was harsh: "Owing to the saturation of Italian universities, the Italian authorities have decided to suspend all enrollments of foreign citizens for the academic years 1977-78 and 1978-79." Similarly blunt notices appeared at Italian consulates worldwide. The announcement two weeks ago set off a barrage of angry, incredulous calls from parents of many of the 10,000 or so students, in nearly 100 countries, who are studying Italian in order to enter one of Italy's universities this fall.

Last week the protests were continuing unabated. In Athens the Parents" Committee...

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