Harvard admissions dean testified Tuesday that lower “personal ratings” to some Asian American student applicants could be due to the recommendation letters provided by teachers and counselors.
John M. Hughes, one of the lawyers for plaintiffs Students for Fair Admissions, spent most of the day questioning William R. Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid, about the university’s admissions procedures.
There were fewer people in attendance in the courtroom of Judge Allison D. Burroughs who was hearing the arguments against Harvard’s admission process, specifically its use of race, in determining who is accepted to the Ivy League school.
Harvard has been accused by Students for Fair Admissions of bias towards Asian Americans who reportedly had higher test scores than some students who were accepted.
Hughs brought forth a 1990 report that cited by the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights which investigated Harvard for similar complaints. The report found the university didn’t discriminate against Asian American applicants, but flagged racial stereotypes reflected in admissions officers’ comments.
Some of the comments: “He’s quiet and, of course, wants to be a doctor.” and described one applicant as “smart and hardworking yet uninteresting and indistinguishable” from other Asian American applicants, Several AAPI applicants were described as shy, science- and math-oriented, and hard workers.
Fitzsimmons said every admissions officer “is always vigilant” and that race and ethnicity are “used in the proper way.”
Fitzsimmons replied that the admissions office does not engage in stereotyping of any kind. “We do not endorse, we abhor, stereotypical comments. This is not part of our process,” he said. “This is not who I am, and this is not who are admissions committee members are.”
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