[bell-cot]

Important context - that quote is attributed thus: "Amanda Claybaugh, Harvard’s dean of undergraduate education and an English professor".

Harvard's admission standards are seldom criticized for being too low. Though one might ask whether the struggling students were ones admitted on the basis of academic merit, vs. family connections...

[modernpink]

Not to mention __________ ______.

[CrazyStat]

Student athletes?

[econonut]

Affirmative action.

[bell-cot]

Admitting that it's been [cough] decades since I was anywhere near an English Lit. course...even back then, the workloads (hours/week of required reading) were notorious. Similar for the lackluster job market for English Lit. majors. That does not sound like a combination to attract many marginally-qualified students, regardless of affirmative action.

[CrazyStat]

Major donors?

[econonut]

My extensive hangman experience leads me to believe that's not what the commenter is suggesting.

[Apocryphon]

Legacy admissions?

[SketchySeaBeast]

Rorschach tests?