US Supreme Court overturns race-based college admissions

US Supreme Court overturns race-based college admissions.

The US Supreme Court has ruled against considering race as a factor in university admissions.

The ruling overturns long-standing US policies on affirmative action, also known as positive discrimination.

Affirmative action, implemented in the 1960s, aimed to increase diversity and has been a controversial topic in US education.

Reactions to US Supreme Court Ruling

President Joe Biden expressed strong disagreement with the decision, stating that discrimination still exists in America.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona acknowledged the removal of an important tool for ensuring campus diversity but emphasized the intent to maintain diverse student populations legally.

Former US President Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner, praised the decision as a victory for individuals with extraordinary ability and the necessary qualifications.

The ruling and its implications

The ruling involved two cases regarding admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC), with the court ruling against both institutions.

The court majority, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, acknowledged that universities should not be prohibited from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affects their life. However, they criticized Harvard’s admissions process as perpetuating the stereotype that a black student can offer something a white person cannot.

Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, who has long opposed affirmative action, argued that such programs are unconstitutional.

Liberal Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor dissented, considering the ruling a tragedy and a cementing of colorblindness in a segregated society.

Responses from affected parties

Edward Blum, the founder of Students for Fair Admissions, celebrated the ruling as a restoration of a colorblind legal covenant, asserting that discriminatory admission practices undermined civil rights laws.

Yukong Zhao, president of the Asian American Coalition for Education, welcomed the decision, stating that it would preserve meritocracy, benefiting Asian American students.

Angie Gabeau, president of the Harvard Black Students Association, expressed discouragement, believing her race played a factor in her application and expressing concern that applicants affected by race will feel obligated to emphasize racial trauma.

Harvard and UNC officials acknowledged the decision and committed to complying with the law while continuing to prioritize diversity and inclusion.

Context and additional information

The Supreme Court has previously upheld affirmative action programs in US universities, most recently in 2016.

Nine US states already have bans on race-based college admissions, and California rejected a 2020 ballot measure to reinstate affirmative action.

The ruling on race-based admissions follows controversial Supreme Court decisions, including the overturning of Roe v Wade and rulings on Native American child welfare and election laws.