Reference no: EM133901642
Assignment:
SUMMARY: Harvard University in a court filing Friday rebutted an analysis of six years of its admissions data as "fundamentally unreliable" because it cherry-picked certain groups of students to try to prove the university intentionally discriminates against Asian-American applicants. The school also reiterated that it has tried alternatives to race-conscious affirmative action to diversify its undergraduate student body, but such efforts would harm both the diversity and academic strength of the class. The filing, opposing a motion for summary judgment by the plaintiffs in a federal affirmative-action lawsuit, is the school's latest salvo in a closely watched battle over how one of the nation's most selective colleges chooses who gets admitted, and whether that process discriminates against Asian-American applicants.
The suit was brought in Boston federal court in 2014 by Students for Fair Admissions, a nonprofit whose members include Asian-Americans who were denied admission to Harvard. It claims Harvard's admissions process is unconstitutional and illegal under federal civil-rights law because it intentionally discriminates against Asian-American applicants and holds them to a higher standard. The suit also alleges Harvard hasn't fully considered race-neutral alternatives to achieving diversity. Harvard argues its admissions process takes into account ratings on academics, as well as personal scores based on teacher and other recommendations, athletics and extracurricular activities.
CLASSROOM APPLICATION: Harvard University has been sued in Federal Court for concerns related to under representation of Asian-Americans. The admissions process is not 'race neutral' and its data excludes a number of categories of admissions. Students can discuss the challenges that universities face in creating equal opportunity for candidates.
QUESTIONS:
1. (Introductory) Should college admissions be based strictly on a candidates academic credentials, rather than other criteria?
2. (Advanced) Developing statistics related to a school's admissions, Harvard excludes athletes, legacies, and children of faculty and staff. Does this undermine conclusions about potential racial bias at Harvard?
3. (Advanced) If Harbard is correct that ending 'race neutral' admissions would lead to a 50% decline in African American representation, should they be forced to change their current admissions practices?