Harvard has rescinded Kyle Kashuv’s acceptance to attend the university in the fall after offensive years-old private messages between Kashuv and his friends at the time leaked.
Harvard accepted Kashuv, a survivor of the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, in March. Leaked messages Kashuv sent his friends when he was 16 began circulating over the internet in May.
The messages contained racial slurs and other “idiotic comments.” Kashuv apologized for the messages sent months before the shooting, and he said they were poor attempts to be as “extreme and shocking as possible.”
“N—– N—– N—– im like really good at typing n—– ok like practice uhhhhhh makes perfect,” one message says. Kashuv also referred to black student athletes as “n—–jocks.”
Harvard rescinded Kashuv’s acceptance, citing the messages, Kashuv announced on Monday.
“Three months after being admitted to Harvard Class of 2023, Harvard has decided to rescind my admission over texts and comments made nearly two years ago, months prior to the shooting,” Kashuv said on Twitter.
1/ THREAD: Harvard rescinded my acceptance.
Three months after being admitted to Harvard Class of 2023, Harvard has decided to rescind my admission over texts and comments made nearly two years ago, months prior to the shooting.
I have some thoughts. Here’s what happened.
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
After Kashuv’s old messages leaked online, Harvard received numerous calls to rescind Kashuv’s acceptance to the university. The university contacted Kashuv asking for a written explanation for the messages. Kashuv replied, again expressing regret at his “poor choices” and said the messages were written for “shock value” and without any “racial animus.”
5/ I responded to the letter with a full explanation, apology, and requested documents. pic.twitter.com/yWd6FeKWOJ
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
Kashuv also emailed Harvard’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion seeking guidance on how to move forward and “right this wrong.”
6/ I also sent an email to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to seek guidance on how to right this wrong and work with them once I was on campus. pic.twitter.com/3M1UEXXeQm
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
Harvard ultimately pulled Kashuv’s acceptance to the university, stating “the committee takes seriously the qualities of maturity and moral character. After careful consideration the committee voted to rescind your admission to Harvard College.”
Kashuv then requested an in-person meeting to explain himself, which Harvard denied.
Kashuv slammed Harvard’s decision to revoke his application and accused the institution of hypocrisy.
“Harvard deciding that someone can’t grow, especially after a life-altering event like the shooting, is deeply concerning. If any institution should understand growth, it’s Harvard, which is looked to as the pinnacle of higher education despite its checkered past,” Kashuv said.
“Throughout its history, Harvard’s faculty has included slave owners, segregationists, bigots and antisemites. If Harvard is suggesting that growth isn’t possible and that our past defines our future, then Harvard is an inherently racist institution,” Kashuv continued. “But I don’t believe that. I believe that institutions and people can grow.”
11/ Throughout its history, Harvard’s faculty has included slave owners, segregationists, bigots and antisemites. If Harvard is suggesting that growth isn’t possible and that our past defines our future, then Harvard is an inherently racist institution.
But I don’t believe that.
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
13/ So what now? I’m figuring it out.
I had given up huge scholarships in order to go to Harvard, and the deadline for accepting other college offers has ended.
I’m exploring all options at the moment.
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
Harvard is currently being sued for allegedly discriminating against Asian Americans. Court documents say that Harvard chronically rejects otherwise qualified Asian American applicants in favor of other minority races.
In June 2017, Harvard rescinded the applications of 10 incoming freshmen over messages sent in a private Facebook group. The messages included sexually explicit memes and and offensive jokes.
