Affirmative Action in university admissions has been a contentious battle, with advocates and opponents alike going head to head, making their cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. In a media briefing, hosted by Ethnic Media Services, we heard from experts who raced to discuss the impact of SCOTUS’ recent actions towards Affirmative Action. Experts discuss possible next steps in the legal drive for racial equity.

Speakers

(L-r) Judy Chu, U.S. Representative for California’s 28th congressional district; John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC; Jin Hee Lee, Director of Strategic Initiatives (part of the litigators team) at Legal Defense Fund (LDF); Francisca Fajana, Director of Racial Justice Strategy at LatinoJustice; Chavis Jones, Associate Counsel, Educational Opportunities Project, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (EMS).
  • Judy Chu, U.S. Representative for California’s 28th congressional district.
  • John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC
  • Jin Hee Lee, Director of Strategic Initiatives (part of the litigators team) at Legal Defense Fund (LDF)
  • Francisca Fajana, Director of Racial Justice Strategy at LatinoJustice
  • Chavis Jones, Associate Counsel, Educational Opportunities Project, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

The panel discussed the importance of diversity in higher education. As Jin Hee Lee, Deputy Director of Litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, notes, “a diverse student body is so essential.” This sentiment is echoed by Francisca Fajana, Director of Racial Justice Strategy of Latino Justice, who emphasizes the need for students of color to have “the space to talk to the ethnic media about this very important decision.”

Why is diversity so important in higher education? The answer lies in the benefits that a diverse student body can bring to a learning environment. Studies have shown that students who attended diverse schools develop stronger critical thinking skills, engage in more civic activities, and tend to have far more positive attitudes towards people from different backgrounds. Essentially, diversity in higher education prepares students for the increasingly diverse post-graduation world.

Of course, the fight for affirmative action comes with its set of challenges. Historically, the Supreme Court has dealt with said challenges, for example, Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin. The outcome led to upholding race as a factor in college admissions and also set a higher standard for how universities justify their use of race. As Pilar Marrero, the moderator of the panel discussion, notes, “There will be pressures on Harvard to continue to make efforts to have a diverse student body within the bounds of the law.”

So what are some possible next steps in the legal drive for racial equity? One option is to continue to fight for Affirmative Action in the courts. As Lee notes, “We have fully supportive of our clients on that as well as other efforts to ensure that colleges and universities try to ensure a diverse student body.” Another option is to focus on other areas of racial equity, such as aiding access to higher education for students of color through financial aid and programs alike.

We are far from the finish line in this fight for Affirmative Action in college and university admissions. But as the panelists make clear, the benefits of a diverse student body are too important to ignore. The fight for Affirmative Action is not just about legal arguments. The importance of diversity in higher education can allude to the benefits it brings to students in diversity-enabled environments.

There is also a need to acknowledge the complexity of race and racial categorization in America today. A New York Times columnist realizes, “racial categorization is an increasingly complicated endeavor where more people than ever identify as belonging to multiple racial groups.” This complexity underscores the importance of Affirmative Action programs as they take into account the experiences of students from diverse backgrounds and recognize the unique challenges they may face in the admissions process.

Overall, the panel discussion provides valuable insights into the ongoing fight for Affirmative Action in college and university admissions. While the legal landscape is an ongoing battle, the benefits of a diverse student body are undeniable. We must keep our heads and hopes up, aiming toward a more equitable and inclusive society for all.