Previously on regressives, we discussed the case of Students for Fair Admissions

versus Harvard University.

The plaintiffs in that case argue that Asian American students have been systematically

discriminated against by Harvard's admissions office.

What makes that dispute unique among challenges to affirmative action

is how it presents a zero-sum competition among different minority groups.

The presumed beneficiaries are Black and Hispanic students,

while the losers are Asian Americans.

But that story leaves out one significant class that enjoys privilege well beyond any single racial group.

Legacy admissions, all students deserve a fair shot in getting into college.

That practice of giving an admissions edge to relatives of alumni.

The practice of legacy college admissions dates back more than a century.

Emerging in the 1920s amid an influx of immigrants and members of the Jewish community.

Some schools say Legacy encourages alumni to donate and adds money for student scholarships.

Supporters of Legacy admissions say the decision should be left up to individual schools.

Just to be clear, you believe that colleges should not use legacy.

I think colleges ought to use merit in order for people to get in,

and I think they ought to use a merit system like the one I put out.

The preferences that Harvard gives to athletes' legacies,

children of donors, and children of faculty and staff.

That's Harvard Law Professor Jeannie Suk Gerson, whom we heard from in the last episode.

That category is known as ALDCs, for short, in the Harvard admissions process. That group, ALDCs, they comprise a third of each class at Harvard.

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