Affirmative Action, Asian Americans, and the Harvard Case

Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard represents a landmark case in affirmative action history, representing the first time that Asian Americans have been brought forth as plaintiffs in high-profile affirmative action litigation. Julie J. Park, who served as a consulting expert on the side of Harvard in the case, will discuss how Asian Americans fit into the debate about race-conscious admissions. She will discuss content from her new book, “Race on Campus: Debunking Myths with Data,” in which she argues that Asian Americans benefit from such policies. She will discuss the role of social science data in the Harvard trial, including both the possibilities and limitations of statistical analyses in examining claims of discrimination.

Co-sponsors: Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies Program; Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Staff Association; Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education; Indigo: The LSA Asian & Asian-American Faculty Alliance; Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA); National Center for Institutional Diversity; Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Trotter Multicultural Center; United Asian American Organizations