Washington Post "It is not enough for students to learn passively; they must have their assumptions and ways of thinking challenged. The presence of diversity in the classroom provides that opportunity and makes for stronger and more effective participants in the human project."
Boston Globe Harvard University won the first battle in the legal war over its affirmative action policies on Tuesday, when a federal judge in Boston ruled that its race-conscious admissions system for undergraduate students was constitutional.
Boston Globe In upholding Harvard’s race-conscious admissions policy, federal Judge Allison Burroughs issued what can be read as a defiant ruling to the forces that have been trying to undermine affirmative action in higher education.
Harvard Magazine "Harvard’s admissions program has been designed and implemented in a manner that allows every application to be reviewed in a holistic manner consistent with the guidance set forth by the Supreme Court,’ her (Judge Allison Burroughs) decision reads. The plaintiff in the case ‘did not present a single admissions file that reflected any discriminatory animus, or even an application of an Asian American who it contended should have or would have been admitted absent an unfairly deflated personal rating."
Washington Post A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Harvard University does not discriminate against Asian Americans in undergraduate admissions, handing the school a victory in a lawsuit that marks one of the latest chapters in the affirmative action debate.
Inside Higher Education "For purposes of this case, at least for now, ensuring diversity at Harvard relies, in part, on race conscious admissions," Burroughs wrote in her conclusion. "Harvard’s admission program passes constitutional muster in that it satisfies the dictates of strict scrutiny. The students who are admitted to Harvard and choose to attend will live and learn surrounded by all sorts of people, with all sorts of experiences, beliefs and talents. They will have the opportunity to know and understand one another beyond race, as whole individuals with unique... Read more about Judge Upholds Harvard's Admissions Policies
NPR Federal District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs issued her decision Tuesday, saying "the Court finds no persuasive documentary evidence of any racial animus or conscious prejudice against Asian Americans."
Associated Press A federal judge Tuesday cleared Harvard University of discriminating against Asian American applicants in a ruling that was seen as a major victory for supporters of affirmative action in college admissions across the U.S.
National Review Judge Allison Burroughs challenged the accusation of the plaintiff, the group Students for Fair Admissions, that the Ivy League institution’s diversity policies intentionally discriminate against Asian-American students, saying the plaintiffs did not provide ‘a single admissions file that reflected discriminatory animus.
US News and World Report Harvard University can continue using race as a factor in its admissions decisions following a federal judge's ruling Tuesday in a high-profile and contentious case that had major implications for the entire higher education industry.
Washington Examiner U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled in favor of Harvard on Tuesday on all counts and found the university does not discriminate against Asian American applicants in the admissions process.
Bloomberg A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that the nation’s oldest college doesn’t discriminate against Asian-Americans…and that its consideration of race as one criterion among many in its admissions decisions is lawful.
New York Times A federal judge on Tuesday rejected claims that Harvard had intentionally discriminated against Asian-American applicants, in a closely watched case that presented one of the biggest legal challenges to affirmative action in years.
Politico “[Judge Allison] Burroughs’ decision mounted a strong defense of race-conscious admissions and the importance of diversity in higher education. Such policies, so long as they meet the Supreme Court’s standard of strict scrutiny, ‘have an important place in society and help ensure that colleges and universities can offer a diverse atmosphere that fosters learning, improves scholarship, and encourages mutual respect and understanding,’ she wrote.”
Los Angeles Times U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs said in her decision that Harvard’s admissions process is ‘not perfect’ but passes constitutional muster. She said there is ‘no evidence of any racial animus whatsoever’ and no evidence that any admission decision was ‘negatively affected by Asian American identity.'
A federal lawsuit challenging Harvard University’s race-conscious admissions policies is pending in federal court, and the outcome could potentially affect affirmative action policies at universities across the U.S.
In this op-ed, Sally Chen, a Harvard senior and student representative in the Harvard affirmative action case, explains why she supports a race-conscious admissions policy.
