US authorities have launched an investigation into racial discrimination at Harvard
The US Departments of Education and Health and Human Services have announced an investigation into Harvard University and the Harvard Law Review over allegations of racial discrimination.
The investigation was prompted by a Washington Free Beacon article alleging that the selection of editors and contributors to articles at the nation’s leading law journal is influenced by race.
“The Harvard Law Review’s article selection process appears to be based on racial criteria. It is similar to an award distribution system where the race of a legal scholar is as important, if not more so, than the quality of the work,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Civil Rights Craig Traynor.
The relevant authorities are currently reviewing financial relationships, control mechanisms, article selection guidelines, and other documents related to journal membership and publication.
The Harvard Law Review has been a journal for some 138 years. In 1990, it selected Barack Obama as the first black president. In February 2024, the journal has been headed by an African-American for two consecutive years. However, despite this, the number of black freshmen at Harvard Law School has dropped dramatically: from 7.6% to 3.4% (19 in total).
Earlier, the U.S. Department of Education reported that it was depriving Harvard University of funding for 2.2 billion dollars after the leadership of the university publicly rejected the White House’s demands for changes in personnel and educational policy.