Harvard Faces Federal Scrutiny
The Justice Department is launching a serious probe into Harvard University. Officials are checking if the school accepted foreign donations that favored students from China over Americans. This review started after reports showed some donors set strict rules on who gets money. This action could mean American students are being pushed aside by foreign interests.
According to Fox News Politics, the department said Harvard’s disclosures raised red flags. Some donors from China directed the university to use their funds only for students from specific countries. Officials are examining if these deals break Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. That law bars schools from discriminating based on national origin.
Per the Washington Times, the investigation targets “China-based financial aid programs.” The agency found that Chinese donors gave money to support aid limited to students from certain nations. Such limitations may constitute unlawful discrimination rooted in national origin, according to the department. The DOJ has not reached any final conclusions yet.
What The Law Says
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon made the government’s stance clear. She stated, “Every American student should have an equal opportunity to compete for college scholarships, grants, and other kinds of financial aid and benefits.” She added that schools cannot take federal dollars and then use foreign money to exclude citizens.
Dhillon warned, “doing so is illegal, and we will stop it wherever we find it.” According to the Washington Examiner, the Civil Rights Division found multiple gifts from China-based sources. These gifts allegedly restrict funds to provide aid with a preference for students from “particular countries.”
Harvard denied any wrongdoing. In a statement, the university said it follows the law for required reporting of donations. They claim they do not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race or national origin in allocating financial aid. However, the DOJ is now asking for documents on contributions that include these restrictions.
Per the Washington Examiner, officials also requested Harvard’s policies for handling foreign gifts. They want to see how the school manages restrictions tied to recipients’ race or national origin. The department did not identify the specific scholarships or donors under examination just yet.