Justice Department Admits Harvard’s Discrimination Against Asian-Americans

Perhaps the most significant ongoing debate over affirmative action has made strides earlier today. According to CNN, the U.S. Department of Justice has sided with a group suing Harvard University for discrimination against Asian-Americans. The Justice Department has stated that “Harvard’s race-based admissions process significantly disadvantages Asian-American applicants compared to applicants of other racial groups — including both white applicants and applicants from other racial minority groups.”

The admissions process at Harvard uses racial-balancing to determine who gets into the elite university, and has not considered other race-neutral alternatives to this in over 45 years, according to the Justice Department. Despite this, officials at Harvard assert that it does not cap the amount of Asian-American students it accepts; rather, Harvard accepts students based on all aspects of their backgrounds and academic abilities. Harvard has stated that it is “deeply disappointed” with the Justice Department’s decision.

The case is set to go to trial in Boston in October.