DOJ accuses Yale of illegally discriminating against white and Asian American applicants

The Justice Department on Thursday accused Yale University of illegally discriminating against Asian American and white students in admissions, a major escalation of the administration's attacks on affirmative action.

If Yale does not change its admissions policy, "the Department will be prepared to file a lawsuit," according to a letter from Eric Dreiband, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

Yale said the school was dismayed by the allegation and called the government's conclusion hasty and meritless.

After receiving complaints from Asian American students, the Justice Department two years ago launched an investigation of Yale's admissions process. The investigation concluded that Asian American and white applicants are only one-tenth to one-fourth as likely to be admitted as African American applications with comparable academic records.

"Yale’s race discrimination imposes undue and unlawful penalties on racially-disfavored applicants, including in particular Asian American and White applicants," Dreiband said in his letter.