Teen with Google PhD-level job sues UW, other schools for alleged racial bias in admissions
Apr 30, 2025, 5:00 AM
The University of Washington. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
A 19-year-old self-taught programmer is suing the University of Washington (UW), among other colleges, for allegedly rejecting him over racial discrimination, Fox News reported Tuesday.
The media outlet stated that Stanley Zhong and his father filed civil rights complaints against the UW, University of Michigan, Cornell University, and the UC system.
According to Fox News, the two allege “racially discriminatory admissions practices that disadvantage highly qualified Asian-American applicants.”
Stanley, reported the media outlet, was first recruited to Google at 13 years old, qualified as a finalist in several coding competitions, and ranked in the 9% of his graduating class, with a 4.42 GPA and 1590 SAT score.
UW deals with budget cuts, revoked visas
Last week, The Daily UW reported in an op-ed that the UW is demanding the UW College of Arts and Sciences make immediate cuts.
According to the student newspaper, Dean Dianne Harris announced immediate 5% cuts on top of previously planned 7% cuts. Additionally, the 5% cuts must be achieved by June 30. The media outlet explained that UW is planning to lay off staff across departments, which the newspaper believes could threaten the school’s mission to expand education and research.
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The UW also came under fire at the beginning of the month when the Trump administration revoked the visas of nine students and recent graduates. The college said it didn’t learn of the visa cancellations until the university checked the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which contains international student records.
“No additional information or details were provided, but we have no indication these actions are due to activism or other protected free speech,” UW said in a prepared statement. “We are also not aware of any immigration officials coming to UW campuses related to this situation.”
Contributing: Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest
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