According to U.S. media reports, the U.S. Department of Justice publicly stated in court on the 30th that it supports the lawsuit accusing Harvard of discriminating against Asian applicants during the admissions process. Reports indicate that the outcome of this case could have a broad and profound impact on future admissions at institutions of higher education. The trial is scheduled to take place in Boston in October.
According to reports, the U.S. Department of Justice stated in a court filing on the 30th: "The evidentiary record shows that Harvard's race-based admissions process significantly disadvantages Asian-American applicants compared to applicants of other racial groups, including white applicants."
The Department of Justice filing also stated, "Furthermore, the evidence shows that Harvard has failed to provide meaningful criteria to guide its consideration of race. Its vague use of a 'personal rating' harms Asian-American applicants and may subject them to racial bias. (Harvard University) engages in unlawful racial balancing, has never seriously considered race-neutral alternatives, and has persisted in using race-based admissions decisions for over 45 years."
It is reported that the U.S. Supreme Court allows universities to consider race in admissions, but only for the purpose of promoting diversity and it should be narrowly tailored. Universities also have the responsibility to demonstrate why their consideration of race is appropriate. However, in the Harvard case, Department of Justice officials stated that Harvard has not explained how it uses race in university admissions, nor has it adopted meaningful standards to limit its use.
According to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions: "No American should be denied admission to school because of their race." Sessions believes that the school's use of "personal ratings," which include highly subjective factors such as "likability" or "popularity," may create bias against Asian Americans. Sessions stated that Harvard University gives Asian-American applicants lower personal ratings than other students.
After reviewing Harvard University's admissions materials, it was found that Asian students received the lowest scores in the subjective rating category.
Harvard University argued that "Colleges and universities must have the freedom and flexibility to build a diverse community that is essential to the learning experience of students. Harvard is proud to stand today with many individuals and organizations that share this position."
Edward Blum, president of the non-profit organization Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), stated: "We look forward to gathering more serious evidence in the future regarding Harvard University's misrepresentation and fabrication of its statements."
On July 30, the Asian American Coalition for Education, representing 156 Asian organizations, joined the Asian American Legal Foundation to submit a brief opposing Harvard University's admissions discrimination against Asian children and supporting the Students for Fair Admissions lawsuit against Harvard. In fact, the "Students for Fair Admissions" organization initiated the lawsuit in 2014, accusing Harvard University of discriminating against Asians in the admissions process. The organization believes that race-based admissions policies are unconstitutional.
The U.S. Department of Justice is currently supporting the lawsuit filed by Asian-American applicants against Harvard University, and the Department of Justice stated last year that it would also conduct an investigation.
The Trump administration is currently urging U.S. universities to abandon the affirmative action policies implemented by the previous administration and is requesting that they not use race as a factor to increase campus diversity in the admissions process, but rather admit students fairly based on their academic performance.
In ancient times, Mencius's mother moved three times to find a suitable environment for her son; today, parents choose where to live based on school districts. Even in the United States, the labels of Asians valuing education and working hard have never been removed. The Department of Justice's support for Asians in the Harvard admissions case has been widely cheered, and the Trump administration also supports fair admissions. It is believed that Asian students will enjoy fairer treatment in the admissions process at top U.S. universities in the future.
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