Harvard University faces accusations of nepotism

Harvard University is currently being targeted by a legal activist group that aims to eliminate preferential treatment in admissions for applicants who have familial ties or financial contributions to the institution.

The group argues that this practice effectively grants affirmative action solely to the wealthy, and they believe its elimination is crucial for ensuring fairness, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling that has significantly limited race-based admissions.

In a report by The New York Times, three organisations based in the Boston area requested the Education Department to investigate Harvard’s admissions policies, alleging that the university’s practices favor less qualified white students with connections to alumni and donors, while discriminating against Black, Hispanic, and Asian students.

Lawyers for Civil Rights, advocating for the case, assert that the adjustment is necessary to maintain merit as the primary criterion for admissions.

“Why should we be rewarding individuals for privileges and advantages inherited from previous generations?” questioned Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, executive director of the organization.

Espinoza-Madrigal further emphasized, “Your family name and financial resources should not determine your worthiness and must not influence the college admissions process.”

This accusation from left-leaning groups comes shortly after the conservative group Students for Fair Admissions won its appeal in the Supreme Court, intensifying the pressure on Harvard and other prestigious universities to cease the preferential treatment given to descendants of alumni and donors.