US Supreme Court :The US Supreme Court has ruled that race can no longer be a factor in university admissions. This ruling goes contrary to the affirmative action policy pursued by American universities since the 1960s.
Under affirmative action, universities weigh in a person’s race or skin colour while offering admissions. Supporters of affirmative action say this policy ensures diversity on US university campuses.
President Joe Biden said he strongly “disagreed” with the Thursday decision. Speaking to the media, he said, “We cannot let this decision be the last word.” Biden insisted “Discrimination still exists in America.”
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the US Supreme Court ruling “took away a very important tool that university leaders used to ensure diversity on campus.”
Background of the judgment
The judgment covers two cases regarding admissions at the University of North Carolina and Harvard University. The Supreme Court ruled 6-2 against Harvard and 6-3 against the University of North Carolina.
The justices were hearing a plea by a group named Students for Fair Admissions founded by Edward Blum.
Blum argued that Harvard’s admission policy went against Title VI of the Civil Rights Act which stops all kinds of discrimination.
Chief Justice Robert Brown, part of the majority, wrote in his judgment, “Many universities have for too long wrongly concluded that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned, but the colour of their skin.”
Justice Clarence Thomas, a Black and considered conservative, agreed with Judge Roberts.
Justices Ketanji Brown and Sonia Sotomayor disagreed with the majority judgment.
“Great day”
Former President Donald Trump welcomed the judgment and hailed it as a “great day.”
Writing on social media, he said that Americans are finally being rewarded for their ability and hard work.
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