Yale student Jishian Ravinthiran, center, raises his fist during a protest against Judge Brett Kavanaugh in the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda, on Capitol Hill, Monday, Sept. 24, 2018 in Washington. A second allegation of sexual misconduct has emerged against Judge Brett Kavanaugh, a development that has further imperiled his nomination to the Supreme Court, forced the White House and Senate Republicans onto the defensive and fueled calls from Democrats to postpone further action on his confirmation. President Donald Trump is so far standing by his nominee. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating a claim that Yale University is discriminating against Asian-American students in its admission process, according to NBC Connecticut.
The University of Connecticut Office of Admissions declined to comment on the investigation, Stephanie Reitz, University Spokesperson, said.
The Asian American Coalition for Education filed a complaint in 2016 regarding the issue. The Education Department and Justice Department confirmed that they will follow through with the investigation in a letter last Wednesday, according to an NBC article written by Collin Binkley.
“The complaint from the New Jersey-based coalition says Yale, Brown University and Dartmouth College unfairly denied Asian-American applicants by treating them differently based on their race,” Binkley wrote. “The Education Department said it had enough information to investigate Yale.”
The Justice Department is also investigating claims against Harvard, according to NBC. These investigations could have lasting effects on college admission processes, specifically affirmative action policies, according to The New York Times.
“The Justice Department is also investigating Harvard’s use of race in its admissions policies, and last month it publicly backed students who accused Harvard in a lawsuit of systematically discriminating against them by suppressing the number of Asian-Americans who attend the school to make room for less-qualified students of other races,” according to the New York Times.
Yale’s president, Peter Salovey, denies the claims, according to the New York Times.
“Yale contends that its admissions process is not intended to create a specific racial mix of students, but rather a student body with a wide variety of ethnic, socioeconomic and other backgrounds,” according to the New York times. “The college said that it takes academic achievement, interests, leadership skills and background into account during the admissions process.”
According to Yale’s website, the school is comprised of 21 percent self-identified Asian students, in comparison to 71 percent white students, 10 percent Black or African-American students, and 11 percent Hispanic. Further, 20 percent of Yale’s student body is comprised of international students.
A primary goal of UConn’s admission process is to create a diverse environment for students, Reitz said.
“UConn is committed to recruiting and enrolling a student body that’s diverse in all aspects, and which reflects the cultural richness of our state, nation and world,” Reitz said in an email. “As we tell prospective students, UConn is one community comprising many cultures.”
The UConn website advertises that the school represents over 100 cultures and values contributions from students of every and any identity.
“Exchanging intellectual ideas and socializing with students who are different than you is critical in developing a global view and instrumental in learning to approach challenges from a fresh perspective,” according to the website. “The opportunities to broaden your view at UConn abound.”
Miranda Garcia is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at miranda.r.garcia@uconn.edu.
