Photo: Madison Rogers (WBZ)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Harvard University has released a statement in reaction to Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling throwing out race-based college admissions.
"We write today to reaffirm the fundamental principle that deep and transformative teaching, learning, and research depend upon a community comprising people of many backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences," University leadership wrote in a letter to the Harvard community. "That principle is as true and important today as it was yesterday. So too are the abiding values that have enabled us—and every great educational institution—to pursue the high calling of educating creative thinkers and bold leaders, of deepening human knowledge, and of promoting progress, justice, and human flourishing."
"For almost a decade, Harvard has vigorously defended an admissions system that, as two federal courts ruled, fully complied with longstanding precedent. In the weeks and months ahead, drawing on the talent and expertise of our Harvard community, we will determine how to preserve, consistent with the Court’s new precedent, our essential values," the letter continued.
In a separate video message, President-elect of Harvard Claudine Gay said, "The Supreme Court's decision on college and university admissions will change how we pursue the educational benefits of diversity, but our commitment to that work remains steadfast. It is essential to who we are and the mission that we are here to advance. For nearly nine years, Harvard vigorously defended our admissions process and our belief that we all benefit from learning, living, and working alongside people with different backgrounds and experiences. We will comply with the Court's decision, but it does not change our values.
The case against Harvard was brought before the Court by Students for Fair Admissions, a group of white and Asian American students who felt unfairly penalized. The vote was 6-2, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recusing herself due to being a member of an advisory governing board at Harvard. The Court ruled 6-3 in a similar case against the University of North Carolina.
"I was just sitting in my math class when I got the notification. I just sat there in shock," Harvard student Zuzanna told WBZ NewsRadio. "I think that this will really change what the campus will look like, how it will feel like. It strikes me as crazy that something like this could happen in our current age. I think affirmative action is integral to what makes this campus what it is, and also what the school is. I think that it allows a lot of people to have an opportunity to receive higher education."
One Asian-American applicant told WBZ that it is a complicated issue: "Harvard is a private institution, so if they want to do whatever they want, it’s up to them. But at the same time, they still receive lots of public funding for research projects."
"It’s so difficult, because as someone who is Asian I’ve always been told, ‘Well, we’re being unfairly discriminated against,'" a Harvard graduate said. "I think there are a lot of issues with how methodologically they talk about Asian communities, but just because they are doing that wrong doesn’t mean the underlying premise of considering race as a criteria is wrong."
WBZ's Madison Rogers (@MadisonWBZ) reports.
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