Lawsuit Targets Harvard’s Legacy Admissions, Alleging Discrimination Against Students of Color

Harvard University is facing a legal challenge from a civil rights group over its legacy admissions policy, which activists argue unfairly advantages predominantly white children of alumni while discriminating against students of color. The lawsuit, filed by the nonprofit organization Lawyers for Civil Rights on behalf of Black and Latino community groups in New England, claims that Harvard’s admissions system violates the Civil Rights Act.

This legal action is part of a broader movement against legacy admissions, which has gained momentum following the recent Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action in college admissions. The decision has prompted concerns about the need for alternative approaches to promote diversity on campuses.

Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, the executive director of Lawyers for Civil Rights, stated, “Why should we reward individuals based on privileges and advantages inherited from previous generations? Family name and financial status should not determine merit or influence the college admissions process.”

Opponents argue that legacy admissions can no longer be justified without the counterbalance provided by affirmative action. While the Supreme Court ruling prohibits colleges from considering an applicant’s race, it still permits preferential treatment for the children of alumni and donors.

In addition to the legal challenge, an independent campaign is urging alumni from 30 prestigious colleges, including Harvard and other Ivy League institutions, to withhold donations until legacy admissions are abolished. Led by Ed Mobilizer, this initiative aims to put pressure on universities to reconsider the practice.

President Joe Biden also weighed in on the issue, suggesting that universities should reevaluate legacy admissions as they “perpetuate privilege rather than foster opportunity.”

Various members of Congress, including several Democrats and Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who is running for the GOP presidential nomination, have demanded an end to legacy admissions following the Supreme Court ruling.

The lawsuit against Harvard draws on data that came to light during the affirmative action case that reached the Supreme Court. The records exposed that 70% of Harvard’s legacy applicants are white, and being a legacy student increases the likelihood of admission by approximately six times.

The lawsuit also highlights other colleges that have abandoned legacy admissions due to concerns about fairness, such as Amherst College and Johns Hopkins University.

According to the lawsuit, Harvard’s preference for legacy applicants has no connection to merit and denies slots to qualified students of color. It calls on the U.S. Education Department to declare the practice illegal and compel Harvard to abandon it as long as the university receives federal funding. Harvard has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

The complaint argues, “A spot given to a legacy or donor-related applicant is a spot that becomes unavailable to an applicant who meets the admissions criteria based purely on his or her own merit.” It further asserts that removing legacy and donor preferences would result in increased admission of students of color to Harvard.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Chica Project, African Community Economic Development of New England, and the Greater Boston Latino Network.

The prevalence and impact of legacy admissions across different institutions remain uncertain. In California, where state law mandates disclosure of the practice, the University of Southern California reported that 14% of last year’s admitted students had family ties to alumni or donors, while Stanford reported a similar rate.

A survey conducted by Big Big News last year on the nation’s most selective colleges found that the proportion of legacy students in the freshman class ranged from 4% to 23%. Notably, at four schools—Notre Dame, USC, Cornell, and Dartmouth—legacy students outnumbered Black students.

Supporters of legacy admissions argue that it fosters an engaged alumni community and encourages donations. However, a 2022 study conducted at an undisclosed Northeastern college revealed that legacy students, who were predominantly white, were more likely to make donations, resulting in a trade-off with diversity.

The Big Big News education team is supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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More about legacy admissions

• Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action
• Civil Rights Act
• Harvard University
• Lawsuit against Harvard’s legacy admissions
• Campaign to end legacy admissions
• Prevalence of legacy admissions
• Arguments in support of legacy admissions