Supreme Court Strikes Down Racial Preferences In College Admissions 

In a landmark decision demonstrating the continued evolution of the nation’s judicial perspective on equality, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday against using race as a deciding factor in college admissions. This historic verdict is a resounding endorsement of individual merit and an affirmation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, which safeguards each citizen’s right to equal treatment under the law.

The long-fought battle led by the activist group Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina (UNC) culminated in the Supreme Court’s 6-3 and 6-2 rulings, respectively. The decisions vindicated those who have long argued against practices they perceive as discriminatory. The SFFA’s cases against both schools alleged these institutions favored certain racial groups, creating an uneven playing field that penalized many qualified applicants.

During the spirited debates, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito notably grilled Harvard’s lawyer, Seth Waxman, about the lower personal scores routinely awarded to Asian American students. Their questions highlight the issue at the heart of the matter – how can true equality be achieved if race continues to impact judgments otherwise based on merit?

Chief Justice Roberts succinctly summarized the Court’s standpoint in writing for the majority: “Harvard and UNC admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause.” His statement underlines the Supreme Court’s shift toward the belief that students should be judged on their individual experiences and not on the color of their skin. He further stated that the decision should not be interpreted as preventing universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race impacted their life but rather to stop the automatic consideration of race as a determining admission factor.

Unsurprisingly, reactions to the verdict were swift and polarized. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) lamented the ruling as a “giant roadblock in our country’s march toward racial justice.” Conversely, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) praised the verdict, stating that “admissions should be decided on merit – not by the color of skin.”

The ruling conveys that equality must be the cornerstone of American society, not just in word but in practice. It acknowledges that granting advantages based on race is, in itself, a form of discrimination. This view is shared by many conservatives and Republican officials who assert that the United States has made significant strides in racial inclusivity. They believe that merit, not race, should be the deciding factor in college admissions.

This ruling underscores that each individual’s experiences and achievements should be the primary factors in determining their college admissions, not their racial or ethnic background. With this decision, the Supreme Court has affirmed its commitment to the core principle of equality enshrined in the U.S. Constitution – a true victory for justice and fairness in higher education.