Harvard Rescinds 10 Acceptances After Finding Offensive ‘Meme’ Facebook Group

Harvard University has rescinded the acceptances of 10 students after they were found engaging in offensive meme sharing on Facebook.

HARVARD RESCINDS 10 ACCEPTANCES

The group began as part of Harvard College’s incoming class group, but a few decided to create a spin-off group, at one point titled “Harvard memes for horny bourgeois teens.” This new group was specifically for students to share inappropriate memes. The founders demanded students post provocative memes into the parent group before being admitted to join the smaller one.

These students exchange memes mocking the Holocaust, sexual assault, the deaths of children, and jokes specifically targeting ethnic and racial groups. For example, one referred to the hypothetical lynching of a Mexican child as “piñata time.”

Finally, in mid-April, university officials were notified and caught on. After investigating, the school revoked admission to the class for at least 10 students in the group. An email about the incident came to the Washington Post on Sunday from University spokeswoman Rachel Dane said the school would “not comment publicly on the admissions status of individual applicants.”

Harvard newspaper The Crimson, however, got its hands on an email sent to one of the offending students. “The Admissions Committee was disappointed to learn that several students in a private group chat for the Class of 2021 were sending messages that contained offensive messages and graphics,” said one of these emails. “As we understand you were among the members contributing such material to this chat, we are asking that you submit a statement by tomorrow at noon to explain your contributions and actions for discussion with the Admissions Committee. Unfortunately, I have to reach out about this situation.”

In addition, Dane told the Post that the university reserves the right to rescind admission to any admitted student if he or she “engages or has engaged in behavior that brings into question their honesty, maturity or moral character,” among other conditions.