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With its recent ruling, the US Supreme Court has ended the practice of considering race in university admissions, disrupting long-standing affirmative action policies. This decision, which is a highly debated topic in US education, overturns the use of positive discrimination. Affirmative action, implemented in the 1960s to promote diversity, has faced criticism. President Joe Biden strongly disagreed with the ruling and called for a new approach that aligns with the law, emphasizing that discrimination persists in America. The court’s decision pertained to two cases involving admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC), resulting in rulings against both institutions.
The Supreme Court favored Students for Fair Admissions, an organization founded by legal activist Edward Blum, who argued Harvard’s admissions policy violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, highlighting the importance of an individual’s achievements and skills rather than race. Justice Clarence Thomas, who has long opposed affirmative action, agreed and deemed such programs unconstitutional. Among the dissenting liberal justices were Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor, who criticized the ruling for promoting colorblindness in a society still plagued by segregation.
Justice Roberts accused the dissenting judges of cherry-picking aspects of the law to suit their preferences. Edward Blum celebrated the success of Students for Fair Admissions, stating that the ruling restored the colorblind legal covenant that unifies the diverse nation. Yukong Zhao, president of the Asian American Coalition for Education, welcomed the ruling, arguing that affirmative action had negatively impacted Asian-American students’ chances of admission to elite schools. However, critics like Angie Gabeau, the Harvard Black Students Association president, expressed disappointment and concern that applicants affected by their race may feel compelled to emphasize racial trauma in their applications.
Harvard’s president, Lawrence Bacow, assured compliance with the court’s decision while maintaining a commitment to diversity. UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz acknowledged the unfavorable outcome and pledged to review the decision to ensure compliance with the law. Former President Donald Trump, a leading Republican candidate for the upcoming election, celebrated the ruling, asserting that individuals with exceptional abilities are finally rewarded. Nine US states already have bans on race-based college admissions, and in California, a 2020 ballot measure attempting to reintroduce affirmative action was rejected.
The Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority, has made significant decisions that have angered and pleased the political left in recent years.
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Source: Omanghana.com
