One of the students who survived the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, last year says #HarvardUniversity rescinded his admission over racist and anti-Semitic comments he made in the past.
Back in March, #KyleKashuv announced that he was accepted into Harvard and last month, screenshots of prior bigoted comments he made were leaked. Today, he took to Twitter to say that his “egregious and callous comments” in leaked screenshots have cost him his spot at one of the world’s most prestigious schools,@cbsnews reports.
“Harvard deciding that someone can’t grow, especially after a life-altering event like the shooting, is deeply concerning,” Kashuv wrote. “If any institution should understand growth, it’s Harvard, which is looked to as the pinnacle of higher education despite its checkered past.”
The comments in question were made when he was 16, months before the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The screenshots — which came from texts, Skype messages and a shared Google document with classmates — reportedly showed Kashuv repeatedly using the N-word and making derogatory comments against Jews.
He wrote in one comment, “Kill all the F***ING JEWS. F*** THE JEWS.”
Kashuv admitted to writing those comments and apologized shortly after they leaked, writing, “I’m embarrassed by it, but I want to be clear that the comments I made are not indicative of who I am or who I’ve become in the years since.”
Kashuv, now 18, posted screenshots allegedly showing that Harvard requested a “full accounting” and “written explanation” of his offensive comments. Officials also reminded him that the school could withdraw its offer of admission.
Kashuv sent an apology and an email to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, saying he would “enter Harvard as a more mature member of the community.”
Kashuv posted a reply letter from Harvard, which said, “As you know, the [Admissions] Committee takes seriously the qualities of maturity and moral character. After careful consideration the Committee voted to rescind your admission to Harvard College.”
He apparently tried to salvage the situation by requesting an in-person meeting, but he claims Harvard turned him down.
Unlike many of his fellow Parkland survivors — who have advocated for stricter gun control legislation — Kashuv became an avid pro-gun activist and has given speeches in favor of the Second Amendment.
As Kashuv’s situation became a trending topic Monday, many people on Twitter did not seem to be too sympathetic about the news of Kashuv’s admission being rescinded.
What are your thoughts on this one, Roommates? Let us know!
TSR STAFF: Christina C! @cdelafresh
