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U.S. NEWS Thursday 15 February 2018

American Living:
Students, alumni challenge legacy preference at top colleges

By COLLIN BINKLEY does not have a campus
JENNIFER McDERMOTT group for first-generation
Associated Press students, the coalition says.
BOSTON (AP) — Students Others in the group come
and alumni at some of the from prestigious private
nation's top universities are schools including Amherst
urging their schools to re- College and the University
consider admissions poli- of Chicago.
cies that give an edge to While students in the co-
relatives of alumni. alition acknowledge the
Campus groups for first- practice could benefit
generation and low-in- them — and some said
come students at 12 elite they felt conflicted about
universities issued a joint challenging it — they ar-
letter Wednesday asking gue that ending legacy
their schools to review the preferences would give
impact of so-called legacy more low-income and first-
admissions policies through generation students a shot
proposed campus panels at attending prestigious
that would include students schools.
and alumni. The coalition "No matter how hard you
also called on their schools work, you can't make your-
to publicize policies and self a legacy. No amount
data on the topic. of SAT studying could make Viet Nguyen poses for a portrait on the Brown University campus in Providence, R.I. Nguyen, now
"This campaign is not about up for that," said Alfredo an alumnus, helped lead an effort urging Brown and other elite universities to rethink their legacy
admissions policies.
whether or not legacy ap- Dominguez, a 20-year-old (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
plicants like our future chil- first-generation Columbia
dren deserve their place student and a member of sions after a group of Asian- parent or grandparent who society’s most advantaged
in their respective universi- the coalition. "They do ac- American students filed a attended. The share at the students.”
ties," the group wrote. "It is tively try to admit students discrimination lawsuit. University of Pennsylvania is Opponents cite research
about ensuring that all stu- from diverse backgrounds, Past studies have found 14 percent. including a 2010 study at
dents have equal footing but this is another step or that most highly selective Schools defend the prac- Harvard finding that at 30
in the admissions process barrier to getting to a more private universities give an tice by saying it encourag- elite schools, the probability
regardless of whether or equitable place." advantage to legacy ap- es alumni to donate, which of admission increased 45
not their parents attended Students aren’t immediate- plicants, but most closely adds money for student percentage points for stu-
a certain university." ly asking schools to ban the guard the policies and their scholarships. dents with a parent who at-
Officials from the 12 schools practice but say they want impact. Many say it’s used only as tended. Some other studies
did not immediately com- to start a conversation. The Among the 12 schools tar- a tiebreaker in close deci- have found no connection
ment on the letter. group opposes legacy poli- geted by the coalition, sions. between legacy policies
Although most colleges cies but recognizes it’s a only Princeton University But some critics say there’s and alumni fundraising.
closely guard the weight complicated issue that de- would provide The Asso- evidence suggesting other- Among the practice’s crit-
they give to legacy status, serves a thorough review, ciated Press its admission wise. ics are some who have
data released by some Ivy said Viet Nguyen, a Brown rates for legacy applicants. “It provides a substantial benefited from it. Former
League universities show alumnus leading the effort. There, the rate for children benefit to applicants,” said President George W. Bush,
that relatives of alumni are The coalition is adding of alumni has hovered Richard Kahlenberg, a se- for example, called for an
admitted at far higher rates pressure to elite admis- around 30 percent for the nior fellow at the Century end to legacy preference
than the overall applicant sions offices at a time when past five years, compared Foundation, a New York- even though it helped him
pool. they’re already under re- with about 7 percent for all based think tank. “At a time get into Yale, which his fa-
The letter is signed by stu- newed scrutiny. Harvard, applicants. when we’re racking our ther and grandfather at-
dent groups at Harvard, for example, is being inves- Cornell University declined brains about how to attack tended.
Brown, Yale and all other tigated by the U.S. Justice to provide acceptance inequality, here’s a policy Instead, Bush said schools
Ivy League schools except Department over the role rates but said 16 percent of that is designed to provide should judge applicants
Dartmouth College, which that race plays in admis- this year’s freshmen have a a preference to some of simply based on merit.q