In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that colleges and universities can no longer take race into consideration as a specific basis in admissions. The 6-3 decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, overturns long-standing precedent that has benefited Black and Latino students in higher education.
The case, Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, was brought by Abigail Fisher, a white woman who was denied admission to the University of Texas at Austin in 2008. Fisher argued that she was denied admission because the university gave preferential treatment to minority applicants.
The Supreme Court had previously upheld the use of affirmative action in college admissions in two cases, Grutter v. Bollinger (2003) and Gratz v. Bollinger (2003). In those cases, the court ruled that colleges could use race as one factor in admissions decisions, but only if they could show that it was necessary to achieve a diverse student body.
In the Fisher case, the court found that the University of Texas at Austin had not met that burden. The court said that the university's admissions program was not narrowly tailored to achieve the goal of diversity, and that it gave too much weight to race.
The decision is a major setback for affirmative action in college admissions. It is likely to lead to a decrease in the number of Black and Latino students attending elite colleges and universities. The decision is also likely to fuel a national debate about race and affirmative action.
Supreme Court Sides with Biden on Student Loan Forgiveness
In a separate decision on Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that President Joe Biden's plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student loan debt for borrowers is constitutional. The 6-3 decision, written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, upholds the administration's authority to use executive action to cancel student loan debt.
The case, Biden v. Nebraska, was brought by six Republican-led states that argued that the administration's plan exceeded its authority under the Constitution. The states also argued that the plan would be unfair to borrowers who have already repaid their student loans.
The Supreme Court rejected those arguments, finding that the administration's plan is a legitimate exercise of executive power. The court also found that the plan is not unfair to borrowers who have already repaid their loans, noting that the plan would only benefit borrowers with high levels of student loan debt.
The decision is a major victory for President Biden and his administration. It allows the administration to move forward with its plan to forgive student loan debt, which would benefit millions of borrowers nationwide.
Reactions to the Decisions
The Supreme Court's decisions on affirmative action and student loan forgiveness were met with mixed reactions.
Supporters of affirmative action condemned the court's decision, calling it a step backward for racial equality. They argued that the decision will make it harder for Black and Latino students to gain access to elite colleges and universities.
Opponents of affirmative action praised the court's decision, saying that it was long overdue. They argued that affirmative action is a form of reverse discrimination that gives unfair advantages to minority applicants.
Supporters of student loan forgiveness hailed the court's decision, saying that it was a major victory for borrowers. They argued that the decision will help millions of borrowers who are struggling to repay their student loans.
Opponents of student loan forgiveness criticized the court's decision, saying that it was unfair to borrowers who have already repaid their loans. They argued that the government should not be in the business of forgiving student loan debt.
The Supreme Court's decisions on affirmative action and student loan forgiveness are likely to have a significant impact on American society. The decisions will be debated for years to come, and they will continue to shape the national conversation about race, education, and economic opportunity.
