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HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Harvard graduation ceremonies. |
THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT is upping its pressure on Harvard in its investigation of discrimination against Asian/Americans at the elite university.
A letter from the DOJ to the school obtained by the Wall Street Journal stated Harvard is being investigated under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans discrimination based on race or national origin, according to the BBC.
The investigation seems to have been prompted by complaints from Students for Fair Admission, which filed a federal complaint against Harvard.
“Harvard’s Asian quotas, and the overall racial balancing that follows, have been ignored by our federal agencies for too long,” said the group’s president Edward Blum.
The DOJ's battle with Harvard potentially sets the stage for the first major legal test of affirmative action policies under the Trump administration. Last year, the US Supreme Court ruled that race can be one among many factors universities use in making admission decisions.
Harvard says it is cooperating with the investigation.
“As we have repeatedly made clear to the Department of Justice, the university will certainly comply with its obligations under Title VI,” said a Harvard spokeswoman.
According to NBC, the DOJ is threatening to file a lawsuit of its own.
“We sincerely hope that Harvard will quickly correct its noncompliance and return to a collaborative approach,” the letter said.
The DOJ says Harvard has yet to produce a single requested document.
The University responded that it is seeking to comply while protecting the privacy of its applicants.
“As we have repeatedly made clear to the Department of Justice, the university will certainly comply with its obligations under Title VI,” said a Harvard spokeswoman.
According to NBC, the DOJ is threatening to file a lawsuit of its own.
“We sincerely hope that Harvard will quickly correct its noncompliance and return to a collaborative approach,” the letter said.
The DOJ says Harvard has yet to produce a single requested document.
The University responded that it is seeking to comply while protecting the privacy of its applicants.
In this potentially pivotal case involving affirmative action policies, Asian/Americans will be on both sides of debate.
The case has divided the Asian American community with many American born Asians supporting diversity goals and affirmative action, while also saying they oppose discrimination in all forms. Those against it are primarily made up of Chinese immigrants who accuse Harvard of capping the admission of Asian students to Harvard at 20 percent.
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