In a corner ruling, the Supreme Court of the United States has delivered a decisive blow to affirmative action in college admissions, establishing that admissions opinions can no longer consider racism as a determining factor.
This significant 6-3 decision, which saw Justice Brett Kavanaugh penning the maturity opinion, holds that the addition of race as a consideration in the admissions processes of prestigious institutions like Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Tabernacle Hill violates the abecedarian principle of the Equal Protection Clause outlined in the 14th Correction.
The decision made by the Supreme Court on the admission process of colleges in the United States is expected to have some significant impact. It’s unsure whether the academic institutions will follow the order of the Supreme Court, but it’s expected that the number of colleges using racism in the process of admissions will definitely decrease in number.
This decision can get some more lawsuits challenging the need of using Affirmative Action in college admissions. On the other hand, this decision also caused some disappointment to the people of civil rights groups, who claimed that “affirmative action is necessary to ensure equal opportunities among all the students in academic institutions“
This case was actually brought to light by the group named ‘Students for Fair Admission‘ which stated that Harvard University discriminates against the applications of Asian American students. The group also presented the data which showed that Harvard’s admission process usually gives their first priority and special treatment to applications from Hispanic and Black students, even when they have lower educational qualifications than Asian American students.
As per the 6-3 decision, quoted by the Supreme Court, the admission process of Harvard University violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The court also said that racism could only be considered in the admission process if it ‘narrowly trailered’ to achieve the compelling interest of the ruling government and the admission procedure of Harvard University doesn’t meet these standards.
The Supreme Court’s judgment was a crucial victory for opponents of affirmative action, who have claimed that it’s a form of reverse discrimination that offers disappointment and setbacks for both White as well as Asian candidates. Also, this historic decision was the first time in the last 25 years that the Supreme Court has struck down affirmative action in college admissions, constitutionally.
The decision will most probably have a significant impact on the admission process of all the colleges, across the country. Many academic institutions have used racism as a factor in their admission procedure for decades, with an aim to create more diversity among students. The Supreme Court’s verdict could force many academic institutions to abandon their affirmative action policies.
This landmark decision of the Supreme Court also received some reactions from the famous personalities of the country.
President Joe Biden said, “The Supreme Court’s decision today is a step backward for our country. It is a retreat from our long-held commitment to building an inclusive society where everyone has a fair shot at success.“
The Vice President, Kamala Harris said, “The Supreme Court’s decision today is a major setback for our progress towards racial justice. It is a reminder that we must continue to fight for the right of all Americans to have an equal opportunity to succeed.“
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated, “The Supreme Court’s decision today is a slap in the face to our Constitution and our country’s long history of fighting for equality. We must continue to fight for affirmative action and for the right of all Americans to have an equal opportunity to succeed.“
The leader of the Senate Majority, Chuck Schumer said, “The Supreme Court’s decision today is a devastating blow to our efforts to build a more just and equitable society. We must continue to fight for affirmative action and for the right of all Americans to have an equal opportunity to succeed.“
In a statement, the president of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson said,
“The Supreme Court’s decision today is a devastating blow to our efforts to build a more just and equitable society. We must continue to fight for affirmative action and for the right of all Americans to have an equal opportunity to succeed.“
The decision of the Supreme Court was a major disappointment for the supporters of affirmative action, but this is not the end of the story. Supporters of affirmative action will continue their fight against the verdict of the supreme court. It will be interesting to observe how this decision will ultimately affect the diversity of students in all the academic institutions of the United States.
As per the inside reports, this verdict will most likely be opposed by protests from the civil rights group and supporters of affirmative action. In addition to this, they may come with an argument that affirmative action is necessary to ensure that all students who come from different backgrounds must have the opportunity to get admission to college regardless of their qualifications.
Most probably there will be an increase in the number of lawsuits challenging the verdict of the Supreme Court against affirmative action, in the coming days.
In conclusion, this decision of the Supreme Court is a major development in the debate on affirmative action being used in the admission procedure of academic institutions. It will be engaging to observe, how this decision will be implemented and what will the long-term impact of this change.
Affirmative action
Affirmative action is a policy that aims to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups for decades in areas such as employment and education. It can include giving these groups preferential treatment and opportunities in hiring, admissions, and other decisions.
Affirmative action programs have been controversial since they were formed. Supporters argue that it is necessary to address the legacy of discrimination and to create a more diverse and equitable society. Opponents argue that affirmative action is unfair to individuals who are not members of underrepresented groups and that it weakens them in getting the deserved opportunities.
The Supreme Court has given verdicts on affirmative action several times, most recently in the 2023 case of Students for Fair Admissions versus Harvard University. In this case, the Court ruled that race can no longer be a factor in admissions decisions at Harvard University. The Court’s decision is likely to have a significant impact on affirmative action programs across the country.
Here are some examples of using affirmative action in various organizations:
- A company that sets a goal of hiring a certain percentage of women and minorities or offers training programs and mentoring opportunities to women and minorities to help them advance in their careers.
- A college that gives its first preference to applicants from low-income families or from underrepresented racial groups.
- A government agency that awards contracts to businesses owned by women or minorities, like a government contractor sets aside a certain percentage of contracts for minority-owned businesses.
Affirmative action is a complex and controversial issue from the very beginning. There have been strong arguments from both sides of the debate, always. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether they support affirmative action or whether they believe it is a fair and effective way to address the legacy of discrimination.
Impact of Affirmative Action
Affirmative action is a policy that aims to increase opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups, such as racial minorities and women. It is often used in employment and education and can take a variety of forms, such as:
- Hiring quotas
- Scholarships and grants
- Outreach programs
- Mentorship programs
- Diversity training
Affirmative action is controversial as well as debatable, with some people arguing that it is necessary to level the playing field and others arguing that it is unfair to give preferential treatment to certain groups. The Supreme Court has given its verdict on affirmative action several times, and the law in certain areas is still evolving.
In general, the Court has ordered that affirmative action programs are permissible if they are narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling government interest. It is an important tool for addressing past discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity.
Affirmative action is a complex issue with no easy answers. It is important to weigh the potential benefits of affirmative action against the potential drawbacks and to make decisions that are fair and in the interest of all the people in general.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is affirmative action?
Affirmative action is a policy that aims to increase opportunities for underprivileged and underrepresented groups of people, also known as minorities to get special treatment from various institutions and organizations in education, jobs, and other decisions
What impact was affirmative action designed to have?
To address the legacy of discrimination and to create a more diverse and equitable society
What were affirmative action programs originally designed to encourage?
To ensure equal opportunities among all and to create a more diverse society
Source: The Internet