Muslim teenager gets Stanford University place by writing #BlackLivesMatter 100 times
A Bangladeshi-American student has won a place at Stanford University after writing #BlackLivesMatter 100 times in the essay section of his application.
Ziad Ahmed said he was "stunned" when his innovative approach to the application process, which he described as "unapologetic activism", paid off.
He proudly tweeted his answer to the question "What matters to you, and why?" and his acceptance letter to the prestigious American university, which boasts 20 applications per place.
I submitted this answer in my @Stanford application, & yesterday, I was admitted...#BlackLivesMatterpic.twitter.com/R5YxM77bWL
— Ziad Ahmed (@ziadtheactivist) April 1, 2017
"I was actually stunned when I opened the update and saw that I was admitted," Mr Ahmed told Mic.
"I didn't think I would get admitted to Stanford at all, but it's quite refreshing to see that they view my unapologetic activism as an asset rather than a liability.
"The insistence on an explanation is inherently dehumanising. Black lives have been explicitly and implicitly told they don't matter for centuries, and as a society - it is our responsibility to scream that black lives matter because it is not to say that all lives do not matter, but it is to say that black lives have been attacked for so long, and that we must empower through language, perspective, and action."
However, some social media users were unimpressed, with Ahmed being accused by some of "virtue signalling" and an "attempt to look progressive".
I just spoke at #KairosPrinceton at the @NassauInn about empowerment + taking action. Incredible speakers/people here. Honored to be a part. pic.twitter.com/9rHQJTUsGY
— Ziad Ahmed (@ziadtheactivist) February 26, 2017
Others pointed out his impressive CV, which includes being invited to the White House and speaking at Tedx conferences around the world, would probably have been enough to secure him a place.