The Department of Justice is upping its pressure on Harvard in its investigation of discrimination against Asian Americans at the elite university.
A letter from the DOJ to the school obtained by the Wall Street Journal stated Harvard is being investigated under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans discrimination based on race or national origin, according to the BBC.
The investigation seems to have been prompted by complaints from Students for Fair Admission which filed a federal complaint against Harvard.
“Harvard’s Asian quotas, and the overall racial balancing that follows, have been ignored by our federal agencies for too long,” said the group’s president Edward Blum.
Harvard says it is cooperating with the investigation.
“As we have repeatedly made clear to the Department of Justice, the university will certainly comply with its obligations under Title VI,” said a Harvard spokeswoman.
According to NBC, the DOJ is threatening to file a lawsuit of its own.
“We sincerely hope that Harvard will quickly correct its noncompliance and return to a collaborative approach,” the letter said.
The DOJ says Harvard has yet to produce a single requested document.
The University responded that it is seeking to comply while protecting the privacy of its applicants.
The case has divided the Asian American community with many American born Asians supporting diversity goals and affirmative action, while also saying they oppose discrimination in all forms. Those against it are primarily made up of Chinese immigrants who accuse Harvard of capping the admission of Asian students to Harvard at 20 percent.
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RE: Dept of Justice Ups Pressure on Harvard in Discrimination Investigation: Do they not realize that legacy children get accepted and then they have a certain percentage for international students. Sure it sucks that Asians have to score higher than any racial group. Isn’t that why they changed their policy this year? What data is the lawsuit using? Harvard and other prestige universities are looking not only for great grades everyone has them but they are also looking for a well rounded community minded student. Hey Swizz Beatz just graduated from Harvard University.