STATEMENT

Charles A. James, Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division, made the following statement in regard to the M.I.T. case:

"The Department is pleased with the court's decision holding that M.I.T. engaged in unlawful behavior with respect to the award of financial aid. The court found 'there was abundant and uncontroverted evidence that the fundamental objective of the Ivy Overlap Group [M.I.T. and the Ivy League Schools] was to eliminate price competition among the member institutions.' The court's decision confirms the Department's position that students and their families are entitled to the full benefits of price competition when they pick a college. They have the right to compare prices among schools, just as they do in shopping for any service."

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