Yes, we smell something fishy as per the reports. The US Justice Department will probe allegations against the prestigious Harvard University. The allegations were that the Ivy League institution discriminates against Asian- American applicants in its admission process. These were levelled in 2015 against the university by a coalition of 64 Asian-American groups, including four Indian-American organisations.
Among the 64 organisations were four Indian-American community associations—
1. American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin
2. BIT Sindri Alumni Association of North India
3. Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin-Los Angeles Chapter
4. National Federation of Indian American Associations.
WHAT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAYS
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will investigate the allegations. The Crimson report said that the university has repeatedly and emphatically denied allegations that it uses racial quotas in its admissions process.
“The posting sought volunteers to investigate one administrative complaint filed by a coalition of 64 Asian- American associations in May 2015 that the prior administration left unresolved,” Justice Department spokesperson Sarah Isgur Flores said in a statement.
“This Department of Justice has not received or issued any directive, memorandum, initiative, or policy related to university admissions in general,” the statement said. The complaint had been filed on behalf of Asian-American students “who, because of their race, have been unfairly rejected by Harvard College because of such unlawful use of race in the admissions process, and/or who seek the opportunity to apply for admission without being discriminated against because of their race”.
Department of Education said that this was similar to an ongoing and separate federal lawsuit filed against Harvard.
WHAT HARVARD SAYS
“To become leaders in our diverse society, students must have the ability to work with people from different backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives. Harvard remains committed to enrolling diverse classes of students,” Harvard spokesperson Rachael Dane said.
