On the Media

Harvard and the Battle Over Higher Ed

28 snips
Apr 4, 2025
Ilya Marritz, a reporter focused on American higher education, digs into the funding battles facing Harvard under the Trump administration. Alongside him, Randall Kennedy, a Harvard Law professor and author, sheds light on the historical evolution of diversity within academia. They discuss the implications of recent Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action and the broader societal impacts. The conversation reveals how political influences challenge academic autonomy while raising critical questions about the future of diversity in schools.
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INSIGHT

Diversity's Ironic Origins

  • Harvard's initial diversity concept aimed to limit Jewish student enrollment by prioritizing national representation.
  • This strategy, using tools like interviews and character assessments, reduced Jewish admissions while maintaining a semblance of diversity.
ANECDOTE

The Bakke Case and Harvard's Influence

  • In the Bakke case, Alan Bakke argued against affirmative action, claiming racial discrimination in admissions.
  • Justice Powell, influenced by Harvard's arguments, supported diversity as a justification for affirmative action, leading to its widespread adoption.
INSIGHT

Diversity's Double-Edged Sword

  • Diversity initiatives valorized people of color for the first time in US history within a policy context.
  • Despite this, affirmative action faced criticism, culminating in the Supreme Court's 2023 decision ending race-based admissions.
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