Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College et al

Filing 471

AMICUS BRIEF filed by Coalition for a Diverse Harvard, First Generation Harvard Alumni, Fuerza Latina of Harvard, Harvard Asian American Brotherhood, Harvard Islamic Society, Harvard Japan Society, Harvard Korean Association, Harvard Latino Alumni Alliance, Harvard Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students, Harvard Phillips Brooks House Association, Harvard South Asian Association, Harvard University Muslim Alumni, Harvard Vietnamese Association, Harvard-Radcliffe Asian American Association, Harvard-Radcliffe Asian American Women's Association, Harvard-Radcliffe Black Students Association, Harvard-Radcliffe Chinese Students Association, Kuumba Singers of Harvard College, Native American Alumni of Harvard University, Native Americans At Harvard College, Task Force on Asian and Pacific American Studies at Harvard College in Support of Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 2 Declaration, # 2 Exhibit 3 Declaration, # 3 Exhibit 4 Declaration, # 4 Exhibit 5 Declaration, # 5 Exhibit 6 Declaration, # 6 Exhibit 7 Declaration, # 7 Exhibit 8 Declaration, # 8 Exhibit 9 Declaration, # 9 Exhibit 10 Declaration, # 10 Exhibit 11 Declaration, # 11 Exhibit 12 Declaration, # 12 Exhibit 13 Declaration, # 13 Exhibit 14 Declaration, # 14 Exhibit 15 Declaration, # 15 Exhibit 16 Declaration, # 16 Exhibit 17 Declaration)(Thayer, Kenneth)

EXHIBIT 10

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
BOSTON DIVISION

STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC,

Plaintiff,
Civil Action No. 1:14-cv-14176-ADB
v.

Leave to file granted on July 31, 2018

PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF
HARVARD COLLEGE (HARVARD
CORPORATION),

Defendant.

DECLARATION OF SAHAR OMER
(HARVARD ISLAMIC SOCIETY)
Sahar Omer, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 1746, declares the following:
1.

My name is Sahar Omer. I am a rising junior at Harvard and expect to earn my

bachelor’s degree in Government in 2020. I am writing this declaration individually and on behalf
of the Harvard Islamic Society (“HIS”) in support of the consideration of race, as one of many
factors, in Harvard’s admissions policy.
2.

I am the President of the HIS. After consulting with HIS’s Board, I have been given

authority to submit this declaration on behalf of HIS.

3.

HIS is dedicated to providing an Islamic environment for members to practice Islam

as a way of life, to assist the broader community at Harvard University with their spiritual, social
and intellectual endeavors, and to provide a better understanding of Islam to the University
community.
4.

HIS was founded in 1956 to serve as an organization that provides a space for

Muslim students to interact and support one another, as well as learn about Islam and Islamic
values. Since then, HIS has been an organization that has also taken up a political side, where they
have advocated for issues that are against Islamic values as well as affect members of the Harvard
and the Muslim community worldwide.
5.

Muslims are underrepresented in higher education, and bias against Asian-

Americans— which make up a large percentage of our population— is something that we believe
should be taken seriously and should be addressed. However, eliminating these biases does not
mean eliminating race-conscious admissions.
6.

As Harvard is an institution dedicated to giving a formative education to the world’s

next leaders, it has the right to providing an education that is not just centered around academics,
but also fosters an environment in which every aspect is a learning experience. Living in a diverse
environment is a social good that gives a more well-rounded experience for every single person in
the group. As Muslims, we understand the threat that comes with misunderstandings and
stereotypes and see the strength that comes with living in communities of diverse backgrounds,
experiences, perspectives, and identities.
7.

Lastly, we stand firmly in support of other underrepresented minority groups that

race-conscious admissions policies seek to benefit. We believe that there are persistent, societal
inequalities on the basis of race that cannot be corrected for by looking only at other factors, and

that race-conscious admissions are necessary to close that gap. Other measures for admissions are
insufficient due to inherent biases and the inability to fully capture the difficulties faced by
marginalized groups.
8.

We believe that it is important for our voices to be heard in this discussion

pertaining to race-conscious admissions. As an organization that has members that have faced
discrimination for their faith, we can offer a different perspective on the value of having a diverse
community and the positive impact that race-conscious admission can have.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on this day, July 27, 2018

___________________________________
Sahar Omer