Apple, other tech firms back Harvard in legal battle over race in admissions
Apple is one of more than a dozen companies backing Harvard University in a fierce legal battle concerning race in college admissions.
In 2014, Edward Blum, a staunch opponent of affirmative action, levied a lawsuit against Harvard arguing that the school was breaking the law by engaging in "racial balancing." A court ruled against Blum's original complaint, which alleged that Harvard was favoring African American and Latino applicants, in 2019. Blum, as a result, has filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals in Boston.
On May 21, Apple, along with companies like Intel, Twitter and Amgen, backed Harvard by signing onto a friend of the court brief, reports Bloomberg. In the brief, the companies took no official stance on Harvard's policy, but maintained that they depend on diverse student bodies among colleges in their search for "the next superb employee."
In lieu of "workable race-neutral alternatives," the companies wrote, affirmative action was still the best possible option.
"As the Supreme Court recognized nearly twenty years ago, the skills needed in today's increasingly global marketplace can only be developed through exposure to widely diverse people,'" the brief reads, citing a landmark 2003 decision by the Supreme Court.
Blum, for his part, said it's "bewildering to witness, yet again, how out-of-step these companies are with the vast majority of Americans."
Apple regularly releases figures on the diversity of its workforce. Apple CEO Tim Cook has also used his personal platform to advocate for diversity.
Like many other tech companies, Apple's top ranks are occupied by white males. Corporate diversity and inclusion initiatives appear to be slowly changing Apple's workforce composition, the company's latest diversity report shows.
"Talent is everywhere," the companies wrote in the brief. "It is not located exclusively in any one particular corner of humanity."
If the complaint is defeated yet again, Blum is almost certain to seek a review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 2014, Edward Blum, a staunch opponent of affirmative action, levied a lawsuit against Harvard arguing that the school was breaking the law by engaging in "racial balancing." A court ruled against Blum's original complaint, which alleged that Harvard was favoring African American and Latino applicants, in 2019. Blum, as a result, has filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals in Boston.
On May 21, Apple, along with companies like Intel, Twitter and Amgen, backed Harvard by signing onto a friend of the court brief, reports Bloomberg. In the brief, the companies took no official stance on Harvard's policy, but maintained that they depend on diverse student bodies among colleges in their search for "the next superb employee."
In lieu of "workable race-neutral alternatives," the companies wrote, affirmative action was still the best possible option.
"As the Supreme Court recognized nearly twenty years ago, the skills needed in today's increasingly global marketplace can only be developed through exposure to widely diverse people,'" the brief reads, citing a landmark 2003 decision by the Supreme Court.
Blum, for his part, said it's "bewildering to witness, yet again, how out-of-step these companies are with the vast majority of Americans."
Apple regularly releases figures on the diversity of its workforce. Apple CEO Tim Cook has also used his personal platform to advocate for diversity.
Like many other tech companies, Apple's top ranks are occupied by white males. Corporate diversity and inclusion initiatives appear to be slowly changing Apple's workforce composition, the company's latest diversity report shows.
"Talent is everywhere," the companies wrote in the brief. "It is not located exclusively in any one particular corner of humanity."
If the complaint is defeated yet again, Blum is almost certain to seek a review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Comments
Has AI ever done a reader poll?
If not, why not?
(FWIW, I am “Asian”).
AppleInsider said:
The problem with Edward Blum's position is his own sense of entitlement and how his perception of reality is unreal. But, maybe, he is only seeking publicity or a validation of his own views.
As everyone knows, most people never attend Harvard University. And many who are definitely intelligent do not shine as students in their youth. But, as with everything, time and life separate success and happiness from failure and false ideas.
Personally speaking, I see nothing wrong with Harvard accepting 15 % or even 20 % of students who would not qualify based only on their grades or the wealth of their parents. I am a proud graduate from a university where everyone had a chance to get admitted, but had to prove their true value on Christmas and final exams in April. Over time, I became more serious and a better student. Eventually, I was even the best student of the class. Ambition is what set me apart, not a sense of entitlement.
The one exemption I’d give to this is religious organizations... it doesn’t make sense to hire someone who doesn’t align with their beliefs.
Also, independently of that, you have no data to back up your assertion. If you do, please provide it, with a cite/source.
Anyway, Tim Cook is a gay man which makes him an underrepresented minority. I thought that fact was pretty well know but if you need a source, here is where he came out:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-10-30/tim-cook-speaks-up
After a bad winter and spring, we are again attempting to move the line to a more relaxed stance on what gets blocked from the start. This will require forum-goer cooperation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/24/us/politics/supreme-court-affirmative-action-university-of-texas.html
Saying you see no race is well meaning for sure but fundamentally problematic. I am going to speak to the Unites States as that is where I live. Growing up Black, Latinx, Asian, white ... are all very different experiences that help shape a person’s identity. Saying you don’t see someone’s race is essentially removing part of their identity. It more or less assumes your experience is “normal” and applying it to others.