Harvard has revoked its offer of admission to Parkland survivor Kyle Kashuv, after evidence surfaced of him using the n-word repeatedly in a private conversation two years prior. They reached out for him for comment, he apologized and explained he was trying to be edgy but the shooting changed him. Harvard decided to rescind its offer of admission anyways.
Personally, I feel like even without such a life-altering event, two years is a long time for a teenager. When I was sixteen, I was a socialist, then when I realized socialism was bullshit, I explored anarchism and ecofascism.
Moreover, his actual comment is edgelordy, stupid, and proof that, at sixteen, he didn't understand the history and implications of the n-word, but not evidence that he was actually racist.
I'm appalled at the fact that Harvard would rescind its admissions offer over this, after he's already accepted and turned down other schools. I'm disturbed by the way that Twitter's reaction seems to be mostly "so bad, too sad."
And yet, I can't help but notice my reaction "the response is disproportionate to the offense," is the same justification the judge who sentenced unrepentant rapist Brock Turner and many of Brett Kavanaugh's supporters used, and like the two of them, this is a super-privileged white kid facing consequences that won't actually ruin his life.
As I see it, there are two differences that explain my reaction. First, of course, is that unlike Turner or Kavanaugh, I feel like Kashuv repented instead of DARVO'ing. But, given that he calls Harvard out for saying people can't change, I'm not sure other people would see it that way. And, moreover, if Turner of Kavanuagh had repented it wouldn't have justified Turner getting a slap on the wrist or Kavanaugh getting the SCOTUS seat he illegitimately holds.
So I think the thing that makes this different for me is primarily the fact that I don't think an edgelordy teenager repeating the n-word several times in private conversation is behavior worthy of ruining someone's life. Now, I'm not saying that problematic speech should never be a reason for private organizations to censure someone, and it's clear to me that there is no value whatsoever in what Kashuv said. However, the n-word is harmful, and has power, because of the way it was directed at black people as a tool of subjugation. Reiterated in a basically nonsensical post in private conversation, it's still problematic, but it feels like normal dumb teenager shit.
But, of course, "dumb teenager shit" and the similar "boys will be boys" is the excuse a lot of people use to excuse sexual harassment and even assault. What do you guys think? Is white privilege blinding me here, or was Harvard's response disproportionate?