[ti:Trump Administration Backs Asian-Americans in Harvard Case] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.20]The United States Justice Department on Thursday [00:04.96]sided with Asian-American students suing Harvard University [00:11.88]over its consideration of race in admissions. [00:18.04]The department said in a court filing Thursday [00:22.00]that Harvard has failed to demonstrate [00:25.64]that it does not discriminate on the basis of race. [00:30.40]It noted what it described as "substantial evidence" [00:35.68]that Harvard is carrying out what the department called "racial balancing." [00:43.20]Attorney General Jeff Sessions added, [00:46.64]"No American should be denied admission to school because of their race." [00:54.48]The Trump administration has been pushing for admissions policies [00:59.68]that do not use race in the consideration process. [01:05.28]In 2014, the group Students For Fair Admission or SFFA argued that Harvard [01:15.96]unfairly treats Asian-Americans who have strong school records. [01:23.44]The Ivy League school denied the accusation. [01:28.00]It said it does not discriminate and will fight to defend its right [01:34.08]to consider race in admissions. [01:38.36]The U.S. Supreme Court permits colleges and universities [01:44.08]to consider race in admissions. [01:47.72]But it says this must be done for the narrow purpose [01:53.32]of creating a mix of ethnicities at schools. [01:58.96]The court also says the practice should be limited in time. [02:05.04]And the court bars the establishment of acceptance levels based on race. [02:13.84]The case between the SFFA and Harvard [02:18.76]could become the high court's next test on the issue. [02:25.44]Harvard said it was disappointed by the Justice Department's position. [02:31.96]A university statement said the school [02:35.40]"will continue to vigorously defend the legal right of every college [02:41.93]and university to consider race" in college admissions. [02:48.28]The statement added that the Supreme Court [02:51.58]has upheld that legal right for more than 40 years. [02:58.12]The university said colleges and universities [03:02.68]must have the freedom to create mixed communities. [03:07.88]It said such an environment is critical the learning experience of all students. [03:16.56]Sessions argued the school's use of a "personal rating," [03:21.64]such as being a "good person" or "likeability," [03:26.80]may be biased against Asian-Americans. [03:31.52]He said the school admits that it scores Asian-Americans lower [03:37.32]on "personal rating" than others seeking admission. [03:43.04]In July, the Trump administration cancelled a measure [03:47.88]that ordered universities to consider race [03:51.72]in their admissions process to make the schools more racially mixed. [03:58.04]That order was left over from the last administration of President Barack Obama. [04:06.56]I'm Caty Weaver. [04:08.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM