Harvard Rescinds Admission for Parkland Student Over ‘Offensive’ Comments

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Dig deep into this student's record. You will find that he is quite
mediocre and really not "Harvard-worthy". I think the real scandal is
there...

The article in the link in the first post claims that he had a 1550 SAT score and 5.4 GPA (how is that even possible?).

Assuming that this is true, his academic record seems to be very good, even by Harvard standards. It was clearly good enough for them to accept him the first time.

Certainly, Harvard can do what it wants, but this seems fairly heavy-handed for an institution that should be supporting free speech. Offensive speech deserves equal protection to inoffensive speech, and many of the ideas that we now accept as standard (for example, equal treatment for all, regardless of sex and race) began as radical ideas that many wanted to censor. I am not sure what the applicant in question actually said/wrote, and I likely would disagree with it, but I do feel strongly about the free exchange of ideas--even offensive ones--and the notion that this should be supported by universities and colleges.

Sorry, I'm all for the free exchange of ideas, but "kill the f'ing Jews" is more than inoffensive speech. The 1st amendment doesn't protect your admission to Harvard.

[Anonymous]

So his words which were racist epithets and threats of violence fall under your idea that these should be 'free exchange of ideas'?

Where does it say that he threatened violence? I would not defend that. But, yes, racist speech is free speech and educational institutions that supposedly value the free exchange of ideas should protect it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Dig deep into this student's record. You will find that he is quite
mediocre and really not "Harvard-worthy". I think the real scandal is
there...

The article in the link in the first post claims that he had a 1550 SAT score and 5.4 GPA (how is that even possible?).

Assuming that this is true, his academic record seems to be very good, even by Harvard standards. It was clearly good enough for them to accept him the first time.

Certainly, Harvard can do what it wants, but this seems fairly heavy-handed for an institution that should be supporting free speech. Offensive speech deserves equal protection to inoffensive speech, and many of the ideas that we now accept as standard (for example, equal treatment for all, regardless of sex and race) began as radical ideas that many wanted to censor. I am not sure what the applicant in question actually said/wrote, and I likely would disagree with it, but I do feel strongly about the free exchange of ideas--even offensive ones--and the notion that this should be supported by universities and colleges.

wtf? racial slurs specifically intended to be a game about being as offensive as possible are not part of the "free exchange of ideas" that universities should be protecting. they weren't IDEAS - they were words intended to be offensive. if they were just ideas (say a well-reasoned critique about affirmative action) that would be different. while his speech may have some 1st amendment protections (not sure) it was certainly not the kind of thing that represents academic freedom.

[Anonymous]

I can't keep track of what the conservatives hate and don't hate I thought liberal universities were bad.

[Anonymous]

How do you get a 5.4 gpa? Major inflation there

[Anonymous]

Slippery scope when we are allowing anonymous people tank college applications. Kids do and say awful things and then they grow up. Many of us have done things we now regret.
Too much glee on this thread and the reason is this kid’s politics. I am glad at least Sidwell addresses the issue of parents trying to hurt completion getting into college. I think this kid did a lot to improve himself and the idea that he cannot get in now is just a joke. Shame on Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So his words which were racist epithets and threats of violence fall under your idea that these should be 'free exchange of ideas'?

Where does it say that he threatened violence? I would not defend that. But, yes, racist speech is free speech and educational institutions that supposedly value the free exchange of ideas should protect it.

If a Harvard student had intentionally made racial slurs to be as offensive as possible, then he would be reasonably subject to discipline under anti-harassment laws. And for admissions, the racial slurs show his character, which is absolutely fair game for admissions criteria. He was not engaged in an academic discourse. Seriously, do you even hear yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slippery scope when we are allowing anonymous people tank college applications. Kids do and say awful things and then they grow up. Many of us have done things we now regret.
Too much glee on this thread and the reason is this kid’s politics. I am glad at least Sidwell addresses the issue of parents trying to hurt completion getting into college. I think this kid did a lot to improve himself and the idea that he cannot get in now is just a joke. Shame on Harvard.

Sorry, but no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slippery scope when we are allowing anonymous people tank college applications. Kids do and say awful things and then they grow up. Many of us have done things we now regret.
Too much glee on this thread and the reason is this kid’s politics. I am glad at least Sidwell addresses the issue of parents trying to hurt completion getting into college. I think this kid did a lot to improve himself and the idea that he cannot get in now is just a joke. Shame on Harvard.

yeah - because what you do in high school should have no bearing on whether you should be admitted to college . . . wait a minute . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you get a 5.4 gpa? Major inflation there

Wasn't that a report from the daily caller? I wouldn't believe it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slippery scope when we are allowing anonymous people tank college applications. Kids do and say awful things and then they grow up. Many of us have done things we now regret.
Too much glee on this thread and the reason is this kid’s politics. I am glad at least Sidwell addresses the issue of parents trying to hurt completion getting into college. I think this kid did a lot to improve himself and the idea that he cannot get in now is just a joke. Shame on Harvard.

maybe if he'd said he wanted to kill all of your ethnic group as a ha ha ha joke you'd feel differently

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It wasn't just racial slurs or "callous" remarks, it was also comments like "I WILL [EFFING] MAKE A CSOG MAP OF DOUGLAS AND PRACTICE Kill all the [EFFING] JEWS. [EFF] THE JEWS."

Did you post this and omit key background details to make him out to be a gentile white male right wing extremist? Kashuv is a Jewish surname. Kyle is a Jewish, as our both of his parents. They go to synagogue every week, as reported in The Times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So his words which were racist epithets and threats of violence fall under your idea that these should be 'free exchange of ideas'?

Where does it say that he threatened violence? I would not defend that. But, yes, racist speech is free speech and educational institutions that supposedly value the free exchange of ideas should protect it.

Free speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences.

[Anonymous]

maybe if he'd said he wanted to kill all of your ethnic group as a ha
ha ha joke you'd feel differently

Where does it say that he said this (or made any type of threat)? That is indefensible. I was the poster who was happy to defend free expression, but, again, that all goes away if he actually made a threat of violence like that. But I don't see where it says that he did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Slippery scope when we are allowing anonymous people tank college applications. Kids do and say awful things and then they grow up. Many of us have done things we now regret.
Too much glee on this thread and the reason is this kid’s politics. I am glad at least Sidwell addresses the issue of parents trying to hurt completion getting into college. I think this kid did a lot to improve himself and the idea that he cannot get in now is just a joke. Shame on Harvard.

maybe if he'd said he wanted to kill all of your ethnic group as a ha ha ha joke you'd feel differently

Your ethnic group? *His* own ethnic group. It was an obvious joke by an immature Jewish kid. I don't have an issue with Harvard rescinding his acceptance. I do have an issue with hacks like you trying to distort this narrative. An immature Jewish teen typed some regrettable crap. Who cares. Move on.