The Tanner Lectures with James Forman Jr.: University Admissions and the American Dream: Who Gets In—and Why It Matters | Lecture Two

Published on April 16, 2026

John Knowles Paine Concert Hall
3 Oxford St.
Cambridge
Thu., Apr. 16, 2026, 4 – 5:30 p.m.

Two pencils crossed in an X shape against a yellow background

Decisions by the United States Supreme Court and the Trump administration have compelled universities to revise their admissions policies. These lectures ask whether higher education can still function as an engine of social mobility in today’s political and legal climate—and, if so, what kinds of admissions policies might help fulfill that promise.

The second lecture turns to the present moment, analyzing recent political and legal developments and highlighting new approaches to fostering campus diversity and inclusion.

Gazette Classification: Diversity and Inclusion, Education, Ethics, Humanities, Law, Lecture, Social Sciences, Special Events
Organization/Sponsor: Mahindra Humanities Center
Speaker(s): Speaker: James Forman Jr.,Yale University, Respondent: Alexandra Natapoff, Harvard Law School
Cost: Free and open to the public; no registration required.
Contact Info[email protected]
Harvard Key Required: No
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