Harvard not discriminating against Asian-Americans, US appeal court rules

Harvard University can continue to use race in its admissions criteria after a federal appellate court ruled that diversity within its student body aligns with the school’s mission and that the selection procedures do not discriminate against Asian-Americans.

“The issue before us is whether Harvard‘s limited use of race in its admissions process in order to achieve diversity in the period in question is consistent with the requirements of Supreme Court precedent. There was no error,” the US Court of Appeals in Boston said in a decision released on Thursday.

“Race is one piece of Harvard‘s interest in diversity. It is considered as part of a ‘broader effort to achieve exposure to widely diverse people, cultures, ideas, and viewpoints’,” it said, referencing a 2015 report issued by Harvard College dean Rakesh Khurana.

Race is sometimes taken into account by Harvard’s admissions officers as part of each applicant’s “personal ratings”, one of six rating categories assigned during the initial assessment stage.

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‘Anti-blackness is something deeply rooted in my community,’ says student Eileen Huang

‘Anti-blackness is something deeply rooted in my community,’ says student Eileen Huang

Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), the anti-affirmative action group that initiated the lawsuit against Harvard, said the race factor benefits African-American and Hispanic applicants and discriminates against Asian-Americans.