DoJ: Harvard Violated Civil Rights Laws

The Feds aren't playing anymore with the Crimson... In a letter sent to Harvard President Alan Garber on Monday and viewed by The Wall Street Journal, attorneys for the administration said the investigation found that Harvard knew Jewish and Israeli students felt threatened on its campus and acted with deliberate indifference.  ~~~ ~~~ “Failure to institute adequate changes immediately will result in the loss of all federal financial resources and continue to affect Harvard’s relationship with the federal government,” the letter states. “Harvard may of course continue to operate free of federal privileges, and perhaps such an opportunity will spur a commitment to excellence that will help Harvard thrive once again.” (HotAir)

Now, as HotAir points out, Harvard has three options...

Option 1 is to go the Hillsdale College route and eschew any/all federal (and state) funding from now on. Option 2 is to fight the Feds' in federal court. Option 3 is to cave and accept whatever punishment the Feds. issue.

I'm betting its' Option 3; why? The reason Hillsdale is successful as a liberal arts college is their entire structure is built around not taking taxpayer funding of any sort; Harvard, by contrast, pretty much depends on federal funding for much of its' activities.

If they fight, that could have unintended consequences; why? Because this is a civil finding, the evidentiary standard is lower (51% or "preponderance of the evidence") and there was plenty of evidence showing Harvard was violating federal civil rights laws (the Fair Admissions case, anyone?) plus should they fight and lose, the punishments could be far worse than what could be expected otherwise.

Which leaves Option 3, to cave and accept whatever punishment the Feds' dole out to them. I suspect this is what will happen but who knows in this day and age...