Harvard discriminates against Asian-Americans in admissions the same way it once discriminated against Jews, largely because of Asian-Americans are so successful academically compared to other ethnic groups.
From the Wall Street Journal op-ed by William McGurn “What Hillsdale Can Teach Harvard”
There’s just one teensy problem for Harvard. It’s called the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and it “prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin in any program or activity that receives Federal funds or other Federal financial assistance.” Harvard receives millions from the feds each year, directly through grants as well as indirectly via federal financial aid.
All of which puts two fundamental principles in conflict. The first is that people should not be discriminated against because of their race. The second is that private institutions should be left to run their own shops without the feds telling them how to do it.
Can these principles be reconciled? Tiny Hillsdale College suggests they can. Back in the 1970s the federal government demanded the Michigan-based college begin counting its students by race and sex as a condition of the federal loans some of its students received. Like Harvard, Hillsdale believes it knows best how to run its school. Unlike Harvard, it made a tough decision to stand on this principle. To avoid the regulatory strings that come with federal dollars, in 1985 Hillsdale decided to forgo all federal dollars—including financial aid for its students.
If Harvard truly believes diversity trumps merit, it should say so proudly—and be willing to give up the federal dollars that are the only reason it is now forced to defend itself in federal court.