12:10 p.m.
In case not everyone saw this, I am forwarding. This is about SFFA vs. Harvard, a case
organized by Edward Blum, who was involved in organizing and promoting the Fisher v.
University of Texas lawsuit.
Maricela Oliva
From: fisher2signers-request(a)lists.gseis.ucla.edu
<fisher2signers-request(a)lists.gseis.ucla.edu> On Behalf Of Laurie Russman
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2018 11:43 AM
To: fisher2signers(a)lists.gseis.ucla.edu
Subject: [[Fisher Signatures]] See note & sign-on info due today Monday, Aug. 27 by
5pm EST for friend-of-the-court brief in SFFA v. Harvard
The Civil Rights Project is forwarding the note below about this important brief.
Gary Orfield
CRP Co-director
Dear Colleague:
The U.S. District Court in Massachusetts is currently considering a challenge brought
against Harvard University's race-conscious admissions policies and practices in a
case called SFFA v. Harvard. The lawsuit was filed by Students for Fair Admissions, an
organization created by Edward Blum, who recruited Asian American plaintiffs in the case
after he lost the last major challenge against affirmative action before the U.S. Supreme
Court in Fisher v. University of Texas.
The case will establish an important record as it potentially makes its way to the U.S.
Supreme Court and could have important implications for all universities, public and
private. As such, we believe it is vitally important that the lower federal court base its
decision on the rigorous body of research that supports Harvard's policy. With this
important interest in mind, a small group of us from across the country with expertise on
issues related to the case, with the assistance of our pro-bono attorney, have drafted an
amicus curiae (friend-of-the-court) brief on behalf of social science experts on Asian
Americans, race, and/or college access. The plaintiff in the case has asked the court to
rule on its behalf before the case goes to trial; the draft
brief<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2...
supports Harvard's opposition to that request. The brief must be filed by August 30,
2018.
In the case, plaintiff argues that Harvard's limited consideration of race in its
admissions process intentionally discriminates against Asian American applicants. In light
of tight space limits, we are not able to include all the important issues to address
these arguments, but overall, the draft
brief<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2...
addresses the following major points supported by research: (1) why Asian American
applicants, like applicants of all races, benefit from Harvard's whole-person review
process; and (2) why Plaintiff's arguments, which promote numerical measures as the
only measures of success, are not only flawed, but based on racial myths and stereotypes
of Asian Americans.
Please review the draft
brief<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2...
and let us know by Monday, August 27, 2018 if you wish to sign, by completing this
form<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F...;.
We want to include scholars with expertise on the topic of Asian Americans, race, and/or
college access in order for the court to understand the broad consensus that exists on the
issues presented in the case. Institutional affiliations will be listed only for
identification and not for indicating any institutional endorsement. The draft will
undergo some final editing, including citation formatting. Given the tight turn-around, we
are not able to make substantive changes. However, within the form, please let us know of
any clear errors or if we have missed important research. We encourage you to distribute
this request to others whom we may have missed. All researchers who have earned a doctoral
degree in the social sciences (e.g., anthropology, Asian American/ethnic studies,
economics, education, political science, public policy, sociology, etc.) and have research
expertise regarding Asian Americans, race, and/or college access are eligible to sign
on<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdo...
to this draft
brief<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2...;.
We are aware that some of you are involved in this case or a separate challenge (SFFA v.
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill), or that you are working with other
organizations/collectives submitting amicus briefs. Please note that individuals should
only sign on to one amicus brief.
Thank you for your consideration.
OiYan Poon, Ph.D. (Colorado State University)*
Janelle Wong, Ph.D. (University of Maryland, College Park)*
Liliana Garces, Ed.D., J.D. (University of Texas at Austin)*
Megan Segoshi, Ph.D. (Independent Scholar)
David Silver, Ph.D. (Impaq International)*
*Institutional/organizational affiliation listed for identification purposes only and does
not imply institutional/organizational support