10.19.18 OutOut ofof thethe CourthouseCourthouse Inside: Defenses, Don'ts, and Dreams The Harvard Independent 10.19.18 The Indy is sharing Out of the your stories. 10.19.2018 Courthouse Photo by Segan Helle ‘20 Cover design by Vol. L, No. 4 Inside: Defenses, Don'ts, and Dreams Isabelle Blair ‘21 CONTENTS STAFF 3 At the Heart of President Jilly Cronin ’21 Harvard’s Defense Editor-in-Chief Tushar Dwivedi ’20 7 What Not to Do to News Editor Segan Helle ’20 Forum Editor Alaya Ayala ’21 Prepare for Midterms Arts Editor Abigail Koerner ’21 Poems Sports Editor Jasper Fu ’21 9 Podcast Editor Marissa Garcia ’21 10 Women Hard at Work at Weld Design Editor Isabelle Blair ’21 11 Sports Briefs Photography Editor Francesca Cornero ’19 Staff Writers Claire Park ’20 Malcolm Reid ’21 As Harvard College's weekly undergraduate Daniel Um ‘19 newsmagazine, the Harvard Independent provides in- depth, critical coverage of issues and events of interest to the Harvard College community. 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Copyright © 2018 by The Harvard Independent. soundcloud.com/harvardindy All rights reserved. 2 harvardindependent.com The Harvard Independent • 10.19.18 INDY NEWS At the Heart of Harvard’s Defense A look into the perspectives of Asian-American activists in defense of Harvard By SEGAN HELLE ang Lee sits in the basement of the the school grew up in the same environment, Phillips Brooks House. A senior in so I think coming here to such a diverse JDunster House concentrating in place— it’s been an incredible experience for Civil Rights laws over the years, including Psychology, Lee spends a lot of time me. I think that’s why Harvard has been this race-conscious admissions policies. grappling with issues of racial and social really big growth experience,” Lee said. “I At the center of the legal debate, lies a justice as an officer for PBHA. Lee, like think there’s a lot of misconceptions going stark divide within the Asian-American many of the students directly involved in around about the personal score that a lot community. The lawsuit centers around a Harvard’s current court case, began talking of Asian-Americans are buying into. I just series of 2013 reports made public in June of to attorneys roughly a year ago, connected really want to stand up and show that what last year alleging that the College’s admissions by another peer involved in both PBHA and Edward Blum is doing is really messed up. policies produce “negative effects” for the trial. Since then, he has become heavily It’s not right that he’s trying to use us as a Asian-American applicants, who tend to be involved in activism surrounding protecting racial wedge.” ranked lower in “personal ratings” assigned affirmative action policies and garnering On Monday, October 15, trial began over by admissions officers and require higher support for Harvard’s legal defense team. the 2014 lawsuit alleging that Harvard’s test score averages than peers of other racial I was born in Korea. I moved to Texas admission process is discriminatory against backgrounds to be admitted. Allegations when I was like, five. The town I grew Asian-American applicants. The lawsuit was of discrimination against Asian-American up in was very white. I grew up without filed by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), applicants have resultantly produced mixed much diversity. We had a handful of Asian a group created by Edward Blum, a right- feelings within the community when put students, but even then the Asian students at wing activist known for challenging several within the context of a court case that works Segan Helle '20 The Harvard Independent • 10.19.18 harvardindependent.com 3 INDY NEWS Segan Helle '20 At the Heart of Harvard’s Defense, continued. to challenge policies generally thought to help minority groups. These divides came to a head on the Sunday prior to the beginning of the trial, when two opposing rallies were hosted within the Boston area. One was in Copley Square, where hundreds of demonstrators, many of whom came from Asian-American backgrounds, protested against Harvard’s action and how I should be having these for the adoption of race-blind admissions admissions practices in support of SFFA. types of conversations with my classmates, processes. Both sides of the case are likely The other was in Harvard Square, held in and my community back home, and my to appeal, meaning there is a possibility for defense of affirmative action policies like family,” Chen said. matters to reach the Supreme Court, which, Harvard’s, and was hosted by students and After those initial conversations, Chen given the predicted right-wing slant after community organizers like Lee. took it upon herself to learn more. As a co- Associate Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh’s coordinator for the Task Force on Asian and appointment, could have serious implications Pacific American Studies (TAPAS), officer for the existence of affirmative action policies What’s at stake for PBHA, and a member of the Harvard as they currently stand. Sally Chen, a senior in Winthrop House Ethnic Studies Coalition, Chen became “This case in the long term is going to have concentrating in History and Literature with heavily involved in activist efforts garnering a much bigger impact than just on universities a joint in Women and Gender Studies, is one support for Harvard’s position in the case. like Harvard. It will have impact on our of four undergraduates who has been called Called the Solidarity Rally for Opportunity community colleges and our workplaces. It to testify in court for Harvard’s defense. and Equality, the protest last Sunday capped will set a precedent with a much farther reach Like Lee, Chen first got involved in the case off a week of action for the Defend Diversity than necessarily this. To think that taking the roughly a year ago, after being contacted movement—a series of events ranging side of SFFA here is going to benefit you in by lawyers working for Asian Americans from teach-ins to photography campaigns the short run is probably wrong, and even if Advancing Justice (AAAJ). organized by a coalition formed by members it does, it is very short sighted,” Chen said. “I “We went to Dumpling House and [the of various Harvard community groups and think affirmative action is important because lawyer] treated us to brunch. That was very national civil-rights organizations with the it is a way of structuring our admissions kind of her. The lawyer who reached out purpose of consolidating support for race- processes or our hiring standards in a way to us was a Harvard undergraduate. She conscious policies in schools and workplaces. that emphasizes seeing a person as a whole was an alum, and so she was talking about Within this coalition lies a group of college person. That includes affirmative action for what her experiences on campus were like students who have been called upon to write thinking about different kinds of diversity and what was kind of different then versus declarations in support of Harvard’s defense, as well: geographic diversity, socioeconomic now, especially in terms of the increasing like Lee, and an even smaller group who diversity, gender and sexuality. I think that diversity on Harvard’s campus. I think that have been called upon to testify, like Chen. there is a lot of ways in which affirmative first conversation was illuminating. I think action can be a way of structuring how we The case is admittedly high-stakes. Blum it really started conversations in my mind. It can cultivate these different spaces and value and the SFFA are attempting to challenge really started the process of me reflecting on someone for more than their scores.” affirmative action policies and advocating race-conscious admissions and affirmative The fear over the outcome of this case for 4 harvardindependent.com The Harvard Independent • 10.19.18 INDY NEWS At the Heart of Harvard’s Defense, continued. voice was heard,” Lu said. At first glance, it is difficult for some to Student advocates like Lu, Chen, and Lee see why members of the Asian-American activists like Chen and Lee is sourced in the community who are alleged victims of racial understanding that Harvard’s trial is more seem to diverge from the attitudes of those within the Asian-American community who discrimination from the University may be than just an issue for the Asian-American on Harvard’s side of the court case. However, community. It is an issue that affects all support the SFFA in two major ways. First, they disagree with the idea that discrimination for students like Lee, whose declarations and racial minority groups on and off Harvard’s testimonies are being used to bring student campus. If Harvard loses the trial this month, against Asian-American applicants has been definitively proven. Second, and more perspective into the courtroom, it is apparent activists fear that affirmative action policies that activists on Harvard’s side often view will be put in danger, and consequently, importantly, they disagree with the idea that Edward Blum’s court case is the solution the question of potential discrimination so will levels of diversity on campuses like against Asian-American applicants as Harvard.