Harvard admitted Kyle Kashuv to their class of 2023, a well-known conservative and a survivor of the Parkland massacre. But after a mob began pressuring the elite school to rescind his admittance, using private comments he made as an immature 16-year-old, Harvard caved and did just that.
Kyle tells the story of what happened below:
1/ THREAD: Harvard rescinded my acceptance.
Three months after being admitted to Harvard Class of 2023, Harvard has decided to rescind my admission over texts and comments made nearly two years ago, months prior to the shooting.
I have some thoughts. Here’s what happened.
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
2/ A few weeks ago, I was made aware of egregious and callous comments classmates and I made privately years ago – when I was 16 years old, months before the shooting – in an attempt to be as extreme and shocking as possible.
I immediately apologized.
Here is my apology: pic.twitter.com/eI38ziiQE8
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
3/ After I issued this apology, speculative articles were written, my peers used the opportunity to attack me, and my life was once again reduced to a headline.
It sent me into one of the darkest spirals of my life.
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
4/ After the story broke, former peers & political opponents began contacting Harvard urging them to rescind me. Harvard then sent this letter stating that Harvard “reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission” and requested a written explanation within 72 hours. pic.twitter.com/RfEQCvjgDX
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
5/ I responded to the letter with a full explanation, apology, and requested documents. pic.twitter.com/yWd6FeKWOJ
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
6/ I also sent an email to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to seek guidance on how to right this wrong and work with them once I was on campus. pic.twitter.com/3M1UEXXeQm
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
7/ Harvard decided to rescind my admission with the following letter. pic.twitter.com/P3bLkF3hHn
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
8/ Somewhat ironically, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion sent me this response regarding my apology:
“Thank you for your email. We appreciate your thoughtful reflections and look forward to connecting with you upon your matriculation in the fall of 2020…” pic.twitter.com/YUX67QW3KE
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
9/ After receiving Harvard’s letter revoking my acceptance, I responded by asking for the opportunity to have an in-person meeting to make my case face to face and work towards any possible path of reconciliation.
Harvard responded by declining my meeting request. pic.twitter.com/rdsGU7BhjD
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
10/ Harvard deciding that someone can’t grow, especially after a life-altering event like the shooting, is deeply concerning. If any institution should understand growth, it’s Harvard, which is looked to as the pinnacle of higher education despite its checkered past.
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
12/ I believe that institutions and people can grow. I’ve said that repeatedly.
In the end, this isn’t about me, it’s about whether we live in a society in which forgiveness is possible or mistakes brand you as irredeemable, as Harvard has decided for me.
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
13/ So what now? I’m figuring it out.
I had given up huge scholarships in order to go to Harvard, and the deadline for accepting other college offers has ended.
I’m exploring all options at the moment.
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) June 17, 2019
This is pretty ridiculous of Harvard. Clearly this has little to do with what Kashuv said when he was 16 and more to do with Harvard kowtowing to the liberal mob who hates him – the same mob that protested Kavanaugh until both he and Harvard Law School had to cancel his classes for the spring of this year.
This has also generated a lot of outrage by conservatives on Twitter over Harvard using this as an excuse to push Kashuv out. Here’s just a few examples:
This mob was being led by the worst elements on the right, including open bigots, and the worst elements on the left. I hope those that joined in to target a kid are proud of themselves.
— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) June 17, 2019
Wherein a bunch of adults decided to excoriate a teen over a bad, stupid joke he made as an even younger teen in an attempt to ruin his life bcse of 2A disagreement. The idea of repentance and forgiveness is dead in our society. It isn’t about persuasion, it’s about destruction. https://t.co/5TRzrCCSbo
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) June 17, 2019
One of the predictable lessons from the Kashuv situation: people will avoid public life. If Kashuv hadn’t become an activist after Parkland, he’s never targeted. https://t.co/zgL26OPaSZ
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 17, 2019
The progressive black balling of Kyle Kashuv is a reminder that there’s no concept of grace in the secular religion.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) June 17, 2019