Being accepted for admission into Harvard University takes excellent grades, top test scores, strong extra-curricular activities, and recommendations by influential people. Having that admission rescinded takes irresponsible Tweets by a 16-year-old.

That’s the case for Kyle Kashuv, a survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. After being accepted to Harvard with plans on attending this fall, the person labeled by some on the left as the “Parkland provocateur” received a letter from the university rescinding his invitation to attend.

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

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

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

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

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



Did 16-year-old Kashuv make mistakes by being cultural insensitive, even outright racist? Yes. But as he pointed out in his Twitter thread, the posts he made were the mistakes of someone before experiencing the massacre of his classmates. Things are different, now. He’s different. Everyone at his school is different.

The message Harvard is sending is a belief that someone qualified to go to their school who receives public backlash for stupid actions when they were younger are irredeemable. What Kashuv did is likely no different or even less severe than many who are or will be attending Harvard. But the others weren’t at the scene of the infamous shooting. They weren’t brought into the spotlight where their pasts were scrutinized. Perhaps most importantly, they probably aren’t the type of common sense gun rights activists Kashuv is.

That last point, which rubbed so many progressives wrong since the shooting, is likely a contributing factor in Harvard’s decision.

In a follow up Tweet, Kashuv posted this:

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.

For complete transparency, I’m not fan of Harvard’s. Perhaps it’s because I’m Asian; Harvard doesn’t like Asians.

It would be different if they never accepted him in the first place, but accepting him and then rescinding is poor form. He made mistakes. He has apologized. He has grown. Harvard should let him in.

We are currently forming the American Conservative Movement. If you are interested in learning more, we will be sending out information in a few weeks.

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