The Supreme Court rejected affirmative action in a 6-3 decision on June 29, 2023. The case, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, challenged Harvard University’s use of race as a factor in admissions. The court ruled that Harvard’s admissions program violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the law.
The decision is a major setback for affirmative action, which has been used by colleges and universities for decades to increase diversity in their student bodies. The ruling is likely to have a ripple effect across the country, as other colleges and universities may now be hesitant to use race as a factor in admissions.
The decision was met with mixed reactions. Some people praised the court for upholding the principle of colorblindness, while others criticized the decision as a step backward for racial equality. It remains to be seen how the decision will impact diversity in higher education in the years to come.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the decision:
- The court ruled that race-conscious admissions programs are unconstitutional because they involve “racial stereotyping.”
- The court said that colleges and universities can still consider race as a factor in admissions, but they must do so in a way that is “narrowly tailored” to achieve a “compelling interest.”
- The court’s decision is likely to have a significant impact on diversity in higher education.
The decision is still being debated, and it is unclear what the long-term implications will be. However, it is clear that the Supreme Court has taken a significant step away from affirmative action.
