via Wikimedia CommonsArts+Culture / NewsHarvard rescinds offers for students over obscene memesAt least 10 students had acceptance offers withdrawn following the discovery of a private Facebook groupShareLink copied ✔️June 5, 2017Arts+CultureNewsText Trey Taylor At least 10 students who were accepted into Harvard College have had their offers revoked, following the discovery of some offensive memes the students posted to a private Facebook group, according to The Harvard Crimson. The students were swapping sexually explicit memes and posting messages about how abusing children was sexually arousing. A private group allegedly called “Harvard memes for horny bourgeois teens” – according to another incoming freshman – included explicit memes mocking sexual assault and the Holocaust, among other offensive topics. One message described the hypothetical hanging of a Mexican child as “piñata time.” Once the group was pointed out to the Harvard Admissions Committee, they reached out to the group’s members who were admitted to the college. A copy of the Admissions Office’s email obtained by The Crimson read: “The Admissions Committee was disappointed to learn that several students in a private group chat for the Class of 2021 were sending messages that contained offensive messages and graphics. As we understand you were among the members contributing such material to this chat, we are asking that you submit a statement by tomorrow at noon to explain your contributions and actions for discussion with the Admissions Committee.” The meme group began when members of an official Harvard Class of 2021 page contacted each other. Members then formed a group specifically to swap memes; a second “R-rated” group was then created, with prospective members having to send a ‘dark’ meme to the group’s founder for vetting before being allowed to post. One of the students who had their admission revoked said that the Admissions Committee asked to see every image that was posted by the student. Cassandra Luca, a student who joined the first meme group but didn’t have her admission revoked said of the situation, “On the one hand, I think people can post whatever they want because they have the right to do that,” Luca told The Crimson. “I don’t think the school should have gone in and rescinded some offers because it wasn’t Harvard-affiliated, it was people doing stupid stuff.” Harvard has previously stated that the decision to revoke an offer is final. Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.TrendingThings To Come: Porn saves the world in Maja Malou Lyse’s ‘bimbo sci-fi’The Danish artist’s new show premieres at the 2026 Venice Biennale – here, she discusses her fictional future where ‘porn stars rule the world’ and how it reflects our relationship with images todayArt & PhotographyFashionNipples, nachos and mask4mask: The biggest trends at the Met Gala 2026 BeautyHoroscopes May 2026: It’s a money month, so expect a surprise windfallBeautyNude awakening: Meet the young people embracing naturismArt & PhotographyWalter Pfeiffer, the cult photographer of beauty, sex and outsidersBeauty10 of the hottest Instagram accounts fusing art, sex and erotica PolaroidArt & PhotographyThree Dazed Clubbers on documenting a complete digital detoxFilm & TVWhat do sex workers actually think of Euphoria?FashionMeet the young superfans camping outside the Met Gala Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy