Federal official sent racist memo to Harvard admissions dean while probing discrimination claims

A federal official sent a racist joke to the Harvard admissions dean after probing an Asian-American discrimination row at the university, an explosive new court document has revealed.

Thomas Hibino deployed a series of Asian stereotypes suggesting they were typically 132 pounds and dreamed of becoming doctors in a memo sent to dean William Fitzgerald, with whom he was good friends.

The note - sent on Harvard admissions-office stationery - was dated more than a decade ago but has only just been unveiled after a judge tried to cover up it up to protect Hibino's 'privacy.' 

Harvard had been accused of favoring white applicants over Asian Americans who scored disproportionately lower on the institution's 'personal ratings.'

As part of the joke, Hibino purported to be an admissions officer discussing a fictional Asian American applicant called José, reports the New Yorker. 

A federal official sent a racist joke to Harvard university dean William Fitzsimmons, pictured, during an investigation into claims the institution discriminated against Asian American applicants  

In 2018 the University was facing claims it unfairly downgraded Asian American students on their 'personal ratings.' The trial has resurfaced during a Supreme Court case brought by the SFFA

It claims he is the 'sole support of his family of 14 since his father, a Filipino farm worker, got run over by a tractor.'

Hibino continued: 'While he was California’s Class AAA Player of the Year, we just don’t need a 132-pound defensive lineman.'

The line appears to be a reference to the stereotype of the slight Asian male physique.  

'I have to discount the Nobel Peace Prize he received. After all, they gave one to Martin Luther King, too. 

'No doubt just another example of giving preference to minorities.'

It continued on to call the fictional applicant 'just another AA CJer' - reportedly shorthand by Harvard admissions for Asian American students who intend to complete a Biology course before becoming a doctor. 

Fitzsimmons supposedly believed the note to be genuinely from an admissions member of staff, writing 'I'm stunned.'

After realizing it was Hibino, Fitzsimmons wrote: 'We'll 'deconstruct' at lunch. Where should we go?'

The joke has sparked a cover-up row after judge Allison Burroughs refused to disclose it, labelling Hibino a 'gentleman.'

Hibino had previously worked at the Boston arm of the Office for Civil Rights eventually serving as their regional director before retiring in 2014.

Prior to that he worked at the Japanese American Citizens League.

He was tasked with overseeing the federal investigation into Harvard decades ago during which time he became friendly with dean Fitzsimmons. 

Exchanges between the two are reported to have involved banter about lunch dates and running races together. The racist memo was sent in 2012 when Fitzsimmons was still working for the federal body.

The following year the issue of discrimination arose again, with Hibino sending a memo to Fitzsimmons asking - 'Regarding the impact of legacy on Asian American applicants, what proportion of AA applicants are legacies and what proportion of white applicants are legacies? 

'Of course I’m happy to talk about this if necessary!'

In 2018 the Students for Fair Admissions brought a legal challenge against Harvard due to its low admission rates for Asian Americans. 

The SFFA noted that Harvard gave Asian American applicants higher academic and extracurricular ratings - but they struggled on their 'personal ratings.'

The body alleged it made for an unspoken quota of Asian American students.  

The memo was uncovered following attempts by Judge Allison Burroughs to block its publication to protect the 'privacy interests' of the 'gentleman' who wrote it 

Burroughs ruled there was no 'intentional discrimination' in the university's admission process

Judge Allison Burroughs, who was appointed by President Obama, dismissed the argument, claiming she found the disparity was instead caused by 'race-affected inputs to the admissions process.'

These included high-school recommendation letters and the 'underlying difference in qualities' between white and Asian American students.

She ruled there was no 'intentional discrimination at Harvard.' 

During the trial, the judge often attended lengthy sidebar discussions with both sets of lawyers.

The New Yorker requested the details of such discussions be made public.

But Burroughs relented claiming there was a 'very poor, ill-advised and in bad taste joke' which she opted to keep sealed to protect the 'privacy interest' of the 'gentleman' who wrote and sent it.

She later said she wanted to give the press a 'flavor' of the remark, adding 'without really being awful about it, I guess.' 

The team representing Harvard also claimed the move was 'calculated to be handed to the press' and 'intended to embarrass Dean Fitzsimmons.'

The note has been unveiled now following the SFFA's move to ban race being used in admissions processes. 

It has shed renewed light on the 2018 case, with the Supreme Court requesting to see all the transcripts and entire trial record. 

Dailymail.com has reached out to Harvard University, the Office for Civil Rights and Judge Burroughs for comment. 

The New Yorker sent calls and messages to Hibino which were not returned.