Supreme Court overturns affirmative action in 6-3 decision
The U.S. Supreme Court is pictured. The Court, in a 6-3 decision, banned the consideration of race in school admissions. (Daily Bruin file photo)
By Catherine Hamilton
June 29, 2023 9:38 a.m.
This post was updated July 2 at 7:40 p.m.
The United States Supreme Court banned affirmative action, the consideration of race in college and professional school admission decisions, Thursday morning.
The ruling comes from two court cases, Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina. The 6-3 decision – with the three justices appointed by Democratic presidents dissenting – overruled the 2003 Grutter v. Bollinger case that allowed for affirmative action.
The UC Board of Regents voted to ban affirmative action in 1995, and Proposition 209 banned it across the state of California for various public sectors including universities and employment. Three different measures to restore affirmative action have failed since, according to the Los Angeles Times.
A UCLA study found that states where affirmative action is barred saw dramatic decreases in the diversity of public medical school student populations.
[Related: Study associates affirmative action bans with decreases in medical school diversity]
In a campuswide email, Chancellor Gene Block said he is disappointed in the Court’s decision, citing potential restrictions on college diversity and opportunities. He also said students can learn more information through the frequently asked questions the university answered.
“Higher education is one of the greatest engines of social transformation in existence,” Block said in the email. “We stand with our peer institutions as they navigate this new landscape, and remain deeply committed to keeping the doors of opportunity open to talented and driven students of all backgrounds.”
