Harvard Admissions Trial Opens: University Accused Of Bias

CAMBRIDGE, MA — Is Harvard University's application process unfairly biased against Asian Americans or not? That question is at the heart of a trial that opened Monday in Boston. And the trial is being watched around the country for the impact it could have on other schools' admissions and for what it might mean for affirmative action.

Students for Fair Admissions, an anti-affirmative action group representing Asian Americans who applied to the school, alleged in federal court that Harvard violated their civil rights during the application process.

The trial is expected to last at least three weeks and highlights a controversy about affirmative action. In previous major cases across the country, white applicants have sued to challenge affirmative action in admissions. This time Asian Americans are the ones suing.

Harvard stands by its admission's process claiming the limited consideration of race during the process is key to fulfilling its mission. During their opening statement the school's attorney continued that stance, saying race was just one factor considered and can only help a student's chances of getting admitted, according to the Associated Press.

The attorneys for Students for Fair Admissions, meanwhile, accused Harvard of intentionally discriminating against Asian-Americans through a personal rating that measures character traits such as "courage" and "likeability," reported the AP.

There are quite a few pundits who expect that this case could have some historic ramifications. Already throughout the past year court filings have shaken out previously unknown details about the College’s secretive admissions process, including an edge the school gives to children of alumni and athletes. And the revelations are likely to keep coming.

There is a decades-old precedent allowing race to be considered in college admissions, but this case could shake that up, reports WBUR.

Check out the Harvard Crimson synopsis of the lawsuit here:

Read More:

• Is Harvard Admissions Discriminating Against Asian-Americans?
• Harvard Discriminating Against Asian-Americans: Justice Dept.
• Hundreds Rally On Copley Sq With Message For Harvard University

Photo By Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff