For the first time in the history of Harvard University, the majority of its incoming freshman class will not be white. It’s a milestone for an institution that’s produced world-class business and political leaders, but one that comes as affirmative action is facing increased scrutiny.
According to new data released by the university, 50.8 percent of Harvard’s class of 2021 are students from minority groups including Native Americans, Asian-Americans, African-Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, and Pacific Islanders.
The Boston Globe reported Harvard recruiters visited 150 communities across the United States as part of a robust effort to raise the level minority applicants. As result, there was a 3.5 percent increase.
This news comes as the New York Times reported President Trump’s Justice Department is planning to divert resources away from its civil rights division in order to provide more funding to investgations into admissions policies that discriminate against white applicants. The Trump administration has denied this, however.
But the Times report unearthed a complaint from an Asian-American filed against Harvard for having racial quotas that excluded Asians with high scores and the Trump administration has confirmed it would be investigating, prompting concern from civil rights advocates and academics.
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