In November 2014, an organisation named the Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) sued Harvard, claiming that the University discriminates against non-minorities. Through this lawsuit, they “aims to end racial classifications in education.”
An example of a race-conscious admission policy that the SFFA uncovered is the intangible personality rating. Personality is one of 4 category that Harvard evaluates an applicant in (including academic, extracurricular and athletic). However, a report by Peter Arcidiacono, a Duke University economist, shows that Asian Americans and White Americans are far more likely than blacks to receive a low personality score from admissions officers. As attorney John Hughes would describe it, "That's race discrimination plain and simple."
Harvard and its supporters, however, argue that these policies protect underrepresented groups and promotes diversity. They justify the substantial, and perhaps unethical, disadvantages that non-minorities faces from Affirmative Action policies by emphasising that diversity increases cultural sensitivity, creativity and innovation. However, Harvard does not make an attempt look for race-neutral alternatives to achieve the educational benefits of diversity. Therefore, its claim that Affirmative Action policies are needed for diversity is highly irrational.
An example of a race-conscious admission policy that the SFFA uncovered is the intangible personality rating. Personality is one of 4 category that Harvard evaluates an applicant in (including academic, extracurricular and athletic). However, a report by Peter Arcidiacono, a Duke University economist, shows that Asian Americans and White Americans are far more likely than blacks to receive a low personality score from admissions officers. As attorney John Hughes would describe it, "That's race discrimination plain and simple."
Harvard and its supporters, however, argue that these policies protect underrepresented groups and promotes diversity. They justify the substantial, and perhaps unethical, disadvantages that non-minorities faces from Affirmative Action policies by emphasising that diversity increases cultural sensitivity, creativity and innovation. However, Harvard does not make an attempt look for race-neutral alternatives to achieve the educational benefits of diversity. Therefore, its claim that Affirmative Action policies are needed for diversity is highly irrational.