US authorities dismiss Asians’ plaint against Harvard University

The US Department of Education has dismissed a complaint filed against Harvard University earlier this year by 64 Asian-American groups, including four Indian-American organisations, that had accused the Ivy League institution of discriminating against Asian-origin applicants in its admissions process.

The 50-page complaint, submitted to the Department of Education and Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division in May, had been filed on behalf of Asian American students.

The students say they have been discriminated against “because of their <g data-gr-id="16">race,</g> and have been unfairly rejected by Harvard College because of such unlawful use of race in the admissions process, and/or who seek the opportunity to apply for admission without being discriminated against on race”.

Among the 64 organisations are four Indian-American community associations-American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin, BIT Sindri Alumni Association of North India, Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin-Los Angeles Chapter and National Federation of Indian American Associations.

A report in The Harvard Crimson, the university paper, said the Department of Education decided to dismiss the complaint because it is similar to an ongoing and separate federal lawsuit filed against Harvard.