Harvard Rescinds Acceptance Over Offensive Group Messages

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Harvard University rescinded admissions offers for at least 10 students over messages allegedly posted in a private Facebook group chat, according to the Harvard Crimson. The Crimson says offensive memes, images and jokes were shared within the group, which was formed by a handful of incoming freshmen late last year.

The Crimson reported it obtained screenshots of the chat, which at one point was called "Harvard memes for horny bourgeois teens." Some messages allegedly mocked sexual assault, child abuse, the Holocaust and the deaths of children. Others targeted specific ethnic or racial groups. Want to keep up the latest Cambridge news? Subscribe to Patch or like us on Facebook!

Several members of the group told the Crimson that school officials emailed them in mid-April to inform them of their knowledge of the Facebook group. The email, shared with the Crimson, read in part:

"The Admissions Committee was disappointed to learn that several students in a private group chat for the Class of 2021 were sending messages that contained offensive messages and graphics. As we understand you were among the members contributing such material to this chat, we are asking that you submit a statement by tomorrow at noon to explain your contributions and actions for discussion with the Admissions Committee. It is unfortunate that I have to reach out about this situation."

About a week later, at least 10 members received letters informing them that their admissions offers had been revoked, including the daughter of a major donor, The Boston Globe reported Tuesday.

Rachel Dane, a spokesperson for Harvard, wrote in an email that the university does not "comment publicly on the admissions status of individual applicants."

University policy states that Harvard reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission from a student for a number of reasons, including engaging in "behavior that brings into question their honesty, maturity or moral character."

Read the full Crimson story here

Image Credit: Roger W via Flickr Creative Commons