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As part of his continuance to undo the 45th President of the United States’ previous work, President Joe Biden’s administration has authorized the Justice Department to drop an affirmative action lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against Yale University in 2020.
Trump’s administration had cited that the school was reportedly discriminating against White and Asian American applicants in its undergraduate admissions process, CNN reported.
“The department has dismissed its lawsuit in light of all available facts, circumstances, and legal developments, including the November 2020 decision by the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit rejecting a challenge to Harvard University’s consideration of race in its admissions practices,” a DOJ spokesperson said in a statement.
It has also “withdrawn its notice letter finding that Yale’s practices violate Title VI” of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which “prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance.”
“The department’s underlying investigation to ensure Title VI compliance is ongoing,” they added.
Then-Attorney General William Barr oversaw the Yale lawsuit. He claimed that “Yale rejects scores of Asian American and white applicants each year based on their race.”
In response to the DOJ’s decision to drop the lawsuit, the university said they were pleased with the results. At the same time, they noted that the government’s initial resistance to its policies in 2020 “cut off an exchange of information that Yale looks forward to resuming.”
“Our admissions process has allowed Yale College to assemble an unparalleled student body, which is distinguished by its academic excellence and diversity,” Karen Peart, a spokeswoman for the school, said in a statement.
“Yale has steadfastly maintained that its process complies fully with Supreme Court precedent, and we are confident that the Justice Department will agree.”
While the school is content with the government’s recent decision, Edward Blum, a conservative anti-affirmative action lawyer and the President for Fair Admissions, is not.
On Wednesday, Blum stated that he was not okay with lawmakers dismissing the lawsuit and promises to begin a new one against the school.
“Students for Fair Admissions intends to file a new lawsuit against Yale in the coming days. Discriminatory admissions policies like Yale’s must be challenged in federal court,” Blum said in a statement.
As Blum’s group looks to begin that new lawsuit, they continue one with Harvard, also targeting the universities’ admission policies.
Contrary to Blum’s thoughts, Niyati Shah, the director of litigation at Asian Americans Justice (AAJC), was satisfied that DOJ dropped the Yale lawsuit because he believed that Asian Americans were being exploited to separate communities of color.
“Students should be able to share their lived experiences during the admissions process and not have to hide who they are,” Shah said in a statement.
“Everybody should have the opportunity to talk about their lived experiences, and if that means talking about their Asian American identity or their other racial identities, it creates an inclusive learning environment,” she added.
