A civil rights organization is taking a stand against legacy admissions at Harvard University, arguing that the practice unfairly advantages white students by giving preference to the children of alumni. This move comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to end affirmative action in college admissions, sparking a growing backlash against legacy admissions.
The nonprofit organization Lawyers for Civil Rights, based in Boston, filed a lawsuit on behalf of Black and Latino community groups in New England, alleging that Harvard’s admissions system violates the Civil Rights Act. Their executive director, Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, questions the justification for rewarding children based on the privileges and advantages of previous generations, stating that family name and wealth should not influence the college admissions process.
With the Supreme Court’s ruling eliminating affirmative action, opponents argue that legacy admissions can no longer be justified without a counterbalance. While race can no longer be a factor in admissions decisions, colleges can still provide preferential treatment to legacy applicants. To put pressure on these practices, a separate campaign is urging alumni from 30 prestigious colleges, including Harvard, to withhold donations until legacy admissions are ended.
Last week, President Joe Biden also expressed his concerns about legacy admissions, stating that they perpetuate privilege rather than create opportunities. This sentiment has been echoed by Democrats in Congress, as well as Republican Senator Tim Scott, a potential GOP presidential candidate.
The lawsuit against Harvard presents evidence from the affirmative action case that shed light on the demographics of legacy applicants. It revealed that 70% of Harvard’s legacy applicants are white, and being a legacy student increases an applicant’s chances of admission sixfold. The lawsuit highlights other colleges, such as Amherst College and Johns Hopkins University, that have abandoned legacy admissions due to concerns about fairness.
The lawsuit argues that Harvard’s legacy preference is unrelated to merit and denies qualified students of color the opportunity to attend the university. It calls on the U.S. Education Department to declare the practice illegal and force Harvard to abandon it as long as the university receives federal funding. Harvard has yet to respond to the lawsuit.
The complaint asserts that a spot given to a legacy or donor-related applicant denies an opportunity to a student who meets the admissions criteria solely based on their own merit. Removing legacy and donor preferences would result in a more diverse group of admitted students at Harvard. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Chica Project, African Community Economic Development of New England, and the Greater Boston Latino Network.
While it remains unclear which schools provide legacy boosts and to what extent, it is known that some schools, like the University of Southern California and Stanford, have reported the practice. An Associated Press survey of highly selective colleges found that legacy students in the freshman class ranged from 4% to 23%. At some schools, such as Notre Dame, USC, Cornell, and Dartmouth, legacy students outnumbered Black students.
Those in favor of legacy admissions argue that it strengthens alumni connections and promotes donations. However, a study conducted at an undisclosed college in the Northeast found that legacy students were more likely to donate, but this came at the expense of diversity, as the majority of legacy students were white.
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