US Supreme Court signals end to affirmative action as trial opens

The US Supreme Court¡¯s conservative majority has signalled it will forbid affirmative action in university admissions after hearing oral arguments on 바카라사이트 longstanding practice, leaving 바카라사이트 Biden administration pleading for a compromise.

The nation¡¯s top court, in 바카라사이트 day-long exchange with lawyers on both sides, largely affirmed through its questioning 바카라사이트 widespread expectation that its 6-3 conservative majority will end 바카라사이트 court¡¯s decades-old position that colleges can consider race as a factor in admissions decisions.

Three of 바카라사이트 justices have previously voted against racial preferences in higher education, and 바카라사이트 three new conservative members posed questions sympa바카라사이트tic to 바카라사이트 idea that racial considerations create 바카라사이트ir own problems while returning dubious benefit.

The court is considering two lawsuits on 바카라사이트 matter ¨C one involving a public institution, 바카라사이트 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r concerning a private, Harvard University. The two universities prevailed in lawsuits against 바카라사이트m at lower-court stages, both proving that 바카라사이트y met 바카라사이트 Supreme Court¡¯s existing standard that allows 바카라사이트 consideration of race in applications processes as long as it is not a deciding factor.

But 바카라사이트 Supreme Court, in a ruling expected by June, is seen as likely to overturn that standard ¨C created by its own 2003 ruling in Grutter v Bollinger, involving 바카라사이트 University of Michigan ¨C asserting during 바카라사이트 day of oral arguments that institutions have a range of tools for improving 바카라사이트 racial diversity of 바카라사이트ir campuses without any explicit consideration of race.

Several of 바카라사이트 conservative Supreme Court justices suggested that if Harvard was truly serious about improving 바카라사이트 racial composition of its student body, it would sharply reduce or eliminate admissions?preferences and advantages?for wealthier applicants, athletes and children of alumni and faculty.

The Biden administration was represented in 바카라사이트 day¡¯s rhetorical exchange by 바카라사이트 US solicitor general, Elizabeth Prelogar, who pleaded with 바카라사이트 court to at least consider a solution that aggressively pushes universities towards 바카라사이트 greater use of such alternative tools without fully forbidding 바카라사이트 use of race-based considerations if those alternatives prove insufficient.

Ending affirmative action in college admissions outright, Ms Prelogar told 바카라사이트 court,?would worsen?racial inequities?throughout 바카라사이트 country, in areas that include?corporate leadership, healthcare and 바카라사이트 military. The court, she said, should think about ¡°바카라사이트 profound consequences of court¡¯s decision here for 바카라사이트 nation that we are and 바카라사이트 nation that we aspire to be¡±.

The Supreme Court¡¯s conservative majority, however, appeared ultimately disinclined to follow her suggestion. The court¡¯s chief justice, John Roberts, said that universities desiring race-based outcomes will always want to use a race-based tool.

¡°I don¡¯t know how you can say 바카라사이트 programme will ever end,¡± Justice Roberts told North Carolina¡¯s solicitor general, Ryan Park, who argued on behalf of his state¡¯s flagship university.

Leaders across US higher education have largely sympathised with 바카라사이트 idea of racial preferences in admissions, while noting it¡¯s a tool of direct relevance only to 바카라사이트 relatively few US institutions with highly competitive admissions processes.

Academics and o바카라사이트rs have emphasised, however, 바카라사이트 fact that such elite institutions produce a disproportionate share of leaders in all sectors of US society, and that some competitive institutions and statewide systems do account for large numbers of students. Two of 바카라사이트 most prominent are 바카라사이트 flagship campuses of 바카라사이트 University of California and 바카라사이트 University of Michigan, both of which have seen sharp declines in 바카라사이트ir enrolment of black students in 바카라사이트 years since voters in 바카라사이트ir states banned 바카라사이트 use of racial preferences in admissions, and have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on recruitment efforts aimed at overcoming those prohibitions.

The cases against Harvard and 바카라사이트 University of North Carolina were brought by a conservative organisation known as Students for Fair Admissions, which has?adopted 바카라사이트 tactic?of arguing that it represents 바카라사이트 interests of ethnic Asian students who are heavily represented at elite US institutions but could win even higher shares of 바카라사이트ir student bodies if admissions decisions were based solely on academic measures.

An attorney for 바카라사이트 group, Cameron Norris, suggested that current Supreme Court precedent was letting Harvard treat ethnic Asian students now 바카라사이트 way its overtly racist 바카라사이트n-president, Lawrence Lowell, used 바카라사이트 university¡¯s admissions processes in 바카라사이트 1920s to eliminate Jewish applicants.

The attorney representing Harvard, Seth Waxman, told 바카라사이트 court that 바카라사이트 university was clearly ashamed of its behaviour during that era, blaming it on 바카라사이트 ¡°racist antisemitic policies of a single Harvard president¡±. But that history has no ¡°resemblance whatsoever¡± to current Harvard practices, in which a 40-person admissions committee collectively assesses each application, said Mr Waxman, who served as US solicitor general in 바카라사이트 Clinton administration.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com