Admissions
Federal Judge Unseals Select Sidebars from 2018 Harvard Admissions Trial
As Harvard’s admissions lawsuit unfolds at the Supreme Court, Massachusetts District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs unsealed parts of 2018 Harvard admissions courtroom transcripts of private conversations between the judge and the lawyers — known as sidebars — last month.
William Consovoy, Attorney Who Represented Students for Fair Admissions, Dies at 48
William S. Consovoy, an attorney who was a prominent face for conservative causes, died on Monday evening, his law firm Consovoy McCarthy announced on Tuesday. He was 48.
Harvard Admissions Dean Touts ‘Transparency’ as Peer Institutions Hide Acceptance Rates
Harvard College Dean of Admissions William R. Fitzsimmons ’67 said in an interview last Thursday that the College is committed to “transparency” in releasing admissions statistics.
Attorneys Clash Over Key Witness’ Credibility in Closing Arguments for Harvard Admissions Bribery Trial
Federal prosecutors and defense attorneys sparred over the credibility of a self-described “middleman” in the alleged admissions bribery scheme between ex-Harvard fencing coach Peter Brand and a Harvard parent in closing arguments Tuesday.
Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach and Harvard Parent Acquitted of Bribery Charges
Former Harvard fencing coach Peter Brand and Harvard College parent Jie “Jack” Zhao are not guilty of a bribery scheme to recruit Zhao’s sons to Harvard, a jury decided Wednesday.
Zhao Sons Testify They Were Unaware of Alleged Bribes to Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach
Eric Y. Zhao ’18 and Edward Y. Zhao ’21, whose father is accused of bribing a former Harvard fencing coach, testified Monday that their father’s involvement in their fencing careers was driven by his love for the sport.
Wife of Harvard Parent on Trial for Alleged Admissions Bribery Scheme Says Couple Was Pressured Into Making $1 Million Payment
The wife of businessman and Harvard College parent Jie “Jack” Zhao told a federal jury on Friday that she and her husband were pressured into making a $1 million payment that prosecutors claim was a bribe to secure their sons’ admission to Harvard.
Wife of Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach Says Alleged Bribes Were Personal Loans, Paid Back in Full
The wife of former Harvard fencing coach Peter Brand told a federal jury on Thursday that the payments made by businessman Jie “Jack” Zhao to their family were personal loans that they planned to pay back with anticipated inheritance money. Brand and Zhao are facing trial for federal bribery charges.
Harvard College Accepts 7.56% of Early Action Applicants to Class of 2027
Harvard College admitted 7.56 percent of early applicants to the Class of 2027, marking the second-lowest early acceptance rate in the College’s history.
Parent on Trial for Alleged Admissions Bribery Scheme Was Key Donor to Harvard Fencing, Witness Says
A fundraiser for Harvard’s fencing program told a federal jury Wednesday that Maryland businessman Jie “Jack” Zhao — accused of bribing the team’s former head coach Peter Brand — provided key funding for the team.
Former Harvard Fencing Captain Says Zhao Brothers Were Qualified to Be On Team
The former captain of Harvard’s fencing team told a federal jury on Tuesday that the sons of Jie “Jack” Zhao, who is accused of paying bribes to get his children into the College as fencing recruits, were talented athletes who were qualified to be on the team.
Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach ‘Made the Difference’ in Admissions Outcomes of Zhao Brothers, Witness Says
A former Harvard admissions officer told a federal jury on Friday that the school’s ex-fencing coach, Peter Brand, “made the difference” in the admissions outcomes of a wealthy Maryland businessman’s two sons.
Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach Wanted $7.5 Million as Admissions Bribe, Witness Says
Shortly after the son of a wealthy Maryland businessman received a likely letter from Harvard College in 2013, Peter Brand, the school’s longtime fencing coach, had a question, a government witness told a federal jury Thursday: Where’s my $7.5 million?
Brand Trial
Jie "Jack" Zhao, center, and his attorneys, William D. Wenreb, left, and Michael T. C. Packard '02, right, exit the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in Boston.
‘Middleman’ in Harvard Fencing Coach Bribery Scandal Details Alleged Payment Schemes at Day 2 of Trial
A key government witness in the federal bribery trial of former Harvard fencing coach Peter Brand laid out new details on Tuesday about how he helped a wealthy Maryland businessman funnel money via nonprofits to the coach in exchange for recruiting spots for his sons.
In Opening Day of Trial, Prosecutors Say Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach Traded Recruiting Spots for Payments as Part of a ‘Stream of Bribes’
Federal prosecutors on Monday told a jury that Harvard’s former longtime fencing coach, Peter Brand, leveraged his team’s recruiting spots for more than $1.5 million in bribes from a wealthy Maryland businessman who was desperate to get his sons admitted to the College.
The Supreme Court Has Heard Oral Arguments in the Affirmative Action Case. What's Next?
Following oral arguments last month, the Supreme Court is set to deliver a decision in the anti-affirmative action lawsuit against Harvard and the University of North Carolina next summer.
Hundreds Rally in D.C. as Supreme Court Prepares to Hear Harvard Affirmative Action Case
Students and advocates on both sides of the affirmative action debate descended on the nation’s capital on Sunday for dueling rallies ahead of Supreme Court oral arguments in a pair of lawsuits that could end race-conscious admissions in American higher education.
The Supreme Court Will Hear Arguments for the Harvard Admissions Lawsuit Monday. Here’s What You Need to Know.
Following eight years of litigation, the Supreme Court will hear on Monday a pair of lawsuits brought against Harvard and the University of North Carolina by an anti-affirmative action group.
SCOTUS Preview: Affirmative Action on the Brink
With oral arguments for the Harvard admissions case set to take place in Washington, D.C., next week, the fate of affirmative action in higher education lies in the Supreme Court's hands — again.
Emboldened by Conservative Court, Ed Blum Seeks to Close Out ‘Long Game’ Against Affirmative Action
Anti-affirmative action activist Edward J. Blum is headed back to the Supreme Court for the first time since 2016. He will be greeted by a 6-3 conservative majority that is set to consider his most far-reaching argument yet.
SFFA Funded by Large Conservative Trusts, Public Filings Show
Students For Fair Admissions, the anti-affirmative action group suing Harvard for its consideration of race in its admissions, is largely funded by conservative trusts, according to public filings since 2017.
Meet the Harvard Students Rallying to Save Affirmative Action
Roughly 100 Harvard undergraduates are set to travel to Washington, D.C., this weekend to rally in support of affirmative action at the United States Supreme Court.
Meet the Lawyers Arguing Before the Supreme Court in the Harvard Admissions Lawsuit Next Week
The Supreme Court will hear lawsuits challenging race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina next week. The verdicts have the potential to end race-conscious admissions at colleges across the country.
SFFA Attorney Withdraws From Supreme Court Oral Arguments to Receive Cancer Treatment
William S. Consovoy, the attorney who has led the crusade against Harvard’s race conscious admissions policies on behalf of Students for Fair Admissions, will not argue before the Supreme Court on Oct 31.