The US Justice Department has accused Harvard University of discriminating against Asian-American applicants, the latest push by the US government to end the use of race in college admissions.
The department on Thursday backed a lawsuit that accuses the Ivy League school of discriminating against academically strong Asian-American applicants in favor of others who may be less qualified.
The court filing noted that administrators of the prestigious university always gave lower marks to Asian-American students applying at the university when evaluating factors such as likability and leadership.
The criticism came as part of an ongoing admissions lawsuit lodged by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA).
The department, which has been investigating Harvard for potential civil rights violations over its affirmative action policy, made its argument in documents filed in federal court in Boston, where the case is scheduled to go to trial in…