The Biden administration has initiated a civil rights investigation into Harvard’s legacy admissions policy, which gives preference to relatives of alumni and donors. This move comes amidst ongoing efforts to reshape higher education. Critics argue that legacy admissions are unfair, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action. However, Harvard and other prestigious schools defend the practice as essential for fundraising. Liberal groups have accused legacy admissions policies of disproportionately benefiting white and wealthy students while discriminating against Black, Hispanic, and Asian applicants. These claims are supported by a recent study, which found that legacy applicants, although generally more qualified, were accepted at much higher rates than other applicants of similar qualifications. Approximately half of legacy students at elite colleges would not have been admitted without this advantage. Legacy admissions have attracted criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, with President Biden and Senator Tim Scott among those who argue against the practice. Even Edward Blum, the activist behind the anti-affirmative action case, supports banning legacy preferences. While some institutions have abandoned legacy policies, like Wesleyan University, Harvard and other elite private schools have defended them, emphasizing the importance of cultivating relationships with alumni who are more likely to donate if their children receive preferential treatment in admissions. The future of this conflict is uncertain. Harvard claims to have been reviewing its admissions policies prior to the investigation. Moreover, civil rights cases handled by the Education Department typically reach settlements rather than going to court. Officials warn that eliminating legacy preferences would require broader changes to admissions policies and present challenges in balancing diversity goals with fundraising objectives.
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