Can Harvard Use Application Essays to Discriminate by Race? – WSJ

Meanwhile, Harvard, UNC s co-litigant, has looked for ways to keep discriminating, and so have many other institutions. They focus on one sentence of the court s ruling: Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.

Harvard responded to the decision by citing this line in isolation, suggesting it would treat it as a loophole. The university said it would comply with the law but reaffirmed its commitment to diversity, commenting, we will determine how to preserve, consistent with the Court s new precedent, our essential values.

Other institutions responded similarly, indicating they would follow the law but look for ways to skirt it. Now that applications for fall 2024 are open, it is evident these schools are willing to risk further litigation by using admissions essays to continue to discriminate using race and other identity characteristics.

Harvard has made a formerly optional prompt a requirement for all applicants: Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?

It s hard to read the word diverse in this prompt as anything other than a signal for students to mention their race or other favored identity characteristics.

via www.wsj.com

Echh.