By Doug Tsuruoka (Asian Times).
The US Justice Department said in early August that it’s investigating a complaint that accuses Harvard University of discriminating against Asian American students in its admissions practices.
The move stems from a May 2015 suit filed against the Ivy League institution by more than 60 Asian American organizations nationwide. The complaint alleges that Harvard holds Asians to a higher admissions standard than African Americans, Hispanics and whites under a racial quota that unfairly limits the number of Asian American students admitted to the college annually.
Harvard argues its admissions policy is fair and that it considers each applicant “as a whole person” — not just based on test scores and grades alone — consistent with standards set by the US Supreme Court.
The high court, a year ago, upheld a University of Texas admissions plan that allows race and ethnicity to be considered as one of many factors in admission. If the Harvard suit also reaches the Supreme Court, any ruling in the case could alter the future of affirmative action at American universities. Go to the article
