The Department of Justice (DOJ) is throwing its support behind a group of Asian-American students who are suing Harvard University for allegedly discriminating against them in the school’s admissions process.
In a 40-page statement of interest Thursday, DOJ attorneys said the record of evidence shows 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 evidence, moreover, shows that Harvard provides no meaningful criteria to cabin its use of race; uses a vague ‘personal rating’ that harms Asian-American applicants’ chances for admission and may be infected with racial bias; engages in unlawful racial balancing; and has never seriously considered race-neutral alternatives in its more than 45 years of using race to make admissions decisions,” the attorneys said.
The DOJ urged the court to reject Harvard’s request to issue a summary judgment in its favor without going to trial.