Will President Biden Flinch in the Harvard Admissions Case?

Before the Supreme Court decides on whether to hear the affirmative action case against Harvard, the Nine are awaiting word on what the United States is going to do. Will President Biden do an about-face from America s past support for Asian-American students alleging discrimination in Harvard s admissions process? If so, how will Mr. Biden square that volte-face with his own promise to combat racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian Americans ?

Students for Fair Admissions says Harvard s race-conscious admissions system has been penalizing Asian-American applicants, in violation of their civil rights. In prior court filings, lawyers representing America agreed. Fair Admissions wants the Supreme Court to overturn its 2003 ruling allowing universities to use applicants race as a factor in admissions. Harvard s own Law Review points to critics calling the lawsuit a wolf in sheep s clothing an attempt to invalidate affirmative action in the guise of preventing discrimination.

So far in the courts, Fair Admissions has fared poorly, chalking up defeats at the district court and with judges who ride the First United States Appeals Circuit. Yet their case has smoked out what they call astonishing racial disparities in Harvard s admissions process. Consider admission rates for applicants in the top academic tier: For African-Americans, it s 56.1 percent. For Hispanics, it s 31.3 percent yet it is only 12.7 percent for Asians, Fair Admissions lawyers report.

via www.nysun.com

The treatment of Asian-Americans by Harvard, Yale and almost all universities is disgraceful and indefensible. A truly private university can do what it wants, but most private universities are at least half public. I hope SCOTUS does the right thing.