Admissions lawsuit
Outside the Courthouse
SFFA affiliates John M. Hughes (left), Adam K. Mortara (center), and Edward Blum (right) exit the court Thursday.
‘Arrogance.’ ‘Small-Town Insecurity.’ Here's Why Harvard Hesitates to Accept Some Applicants
When Megan Turner asked her high school teacher for help applying to Harvard, she hoped for a glowing letter of recommendation. What she got was a “negative” essay referencing her “‘small-town’ insecurity” that nearly sank her candidacy.
In Harvard Admissions Trial, Former FAS Dean Smith Defends Namesake Committee’s Work
Former Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Michael D. Smith took the stand Tuesday to defend his role in upholding the College’s race-conscious admissions practices.
Harvard, SFFA Debate Whether Race or Income Should Reign Supreme in Admissions Process
Both Harvard and SFFA say they think college campuses across the United States should be racially and socioeconomically diverse. They just differ on how to get there.
In First Day of Testimony, Khurana Says It’s Okay Harvard Skews Wealthy
“We’re not trying to mirror the socioeconomic or income distribution of the United States,” Khurana said. “What we’re trying to do is identify talent and make it possible for them to come to a place like Harvard.”
‘This Is Not Who I Am’: For Harvard Admissions Dean, The Trial Is Personal
The trial investigating whether the College discriminates against Asian-Americans could decide the fate of affirmative action in America. But for Dean of Admissions William R. Fitzsimmons '67, it could also decide who he is at Harvard — and how he is remembered.
Asian-American Harvard Admits Earned Highest Average SAT Score of Any Racial Group From 1995 to 2013
Over an 18-year period stretching from 1995 to 2013, Asian-American students admitted to Harvard scored higher on the SAT than did their peer admits from other racial groups, according to data released in the admissions trial.
Fitzsimmons Courthouse
Harvard's long-serving Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons '67 (far right) exits the courthouse during the admissions trial.
Asian-American Harvard Applicants Saw Lowest Admit Rate of Any Racial Group From 1995 to 2013
Over a nearly two-decade period starting in 1995, Asian-American applicants to Harvard saw the lowest acceptance rate of any racial group that applied to the school, according to data presented in the Harvard admissions trial Thursday.
In Admissions, Harvard Favors Those Who Fund It, Internal Emails Show
In one 2013 email headlined “My Hero,” former Kennedy School Dean Ellwood thanked Harvard's dean of admissions for his help accepting a set of students with very particular qualifications. "[Redacted] and [redacted] are all big wins. [Redacted] has already committed to a building.”
Harvard, Students for Fair Admissions Do Battle Over Discrimination on Day One of Trial
The opening day of the highly anticipated Harvard admissions trial drew hordes of spectators and reporters — enough people to fill two courtrooms and a jury assembly room.
In Photos: Dueling Rallies Mark the Start of Harvard Admissions Trial
The day before the admissions trial, Harvard split into two parallel universes. Two dueling rallies made one thing crystal clear: when it comes to the suit, divisions run deep. Relive a tumultuous 24 hours in Cambridge in photos.
William F. Lee
William F. Lee ’72, who is leading the legal team defending the University against allegations of racial discrimination, enters the courthouse on day one of the Harvard admissions trial.
Seth P. Waxman
Former Solicitor General and Harvard Overseer Seth P. Waxman ’73 brings extensive litigation experience to the lawsuit between Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions — Waxman has argued over 65 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.