Disappointed and Determined, BU Community Reacts to SCOTUS Affirmative Action Ruling

Officials vow to remain committed to building a diverse student body, with no intention of “rolling back the clock” to a time when DEI issues did not matter

A Supreme Court ruling on Thursday bans colleges and universities from factoring race into decisions about admissions. File photo by J. Scott Applewhite via AP

Affirmative Action

Disappointed and Determined, BU Community Reacts to SCOTUS Affirmative Action Ruling

Officials vow to remain committed to building a diverse student body, with no intention of “rolling back the clock” to a time when DEI issues did not matter

June 29, 2023

BU Today staff

Editor’s note: This story will be updated with additional campus reaction. To read full statements from BU officials, including President Robert A. Brown, scroll to the bottom.

As was expected, the conservative-leaning US Supreme Court issued a ruling on Thursday that could ban the ability of colleges and universities to use race as a factor in weighing whether to admit a student. The court ruled that admissions programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina both relied, in part, on considering race as a factor in admitting students, an action that the court said violates the Constitution’s guarantee for equal protection.

The decision was 6-3, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recusing herself from the decision in the Harvard case, because she had served on Harvard’s board of overseers. Chief Justice John G. Roberts wrote the opinion for the majority conservative members: “The student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual—not on the basis of race,” Roberts wrote. “Many universities have for too long done just the opposite. And in doing so, they have concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the color of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice.”

In a swift reaction, Boston University President Robert A. Brown wrote in a letter to the BU community Thursday afternoon: “The ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)—in cases addressing the admissions practices at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina—is profoundly disappointing because it takes us backward, potentially creating less diverse college campuses and a less just America. This decision is antithetical to Boston University’s values and mission.” (Brown’s full statement can be read below.)

Brown also joined a statement from the administration of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey that said in part: “Massachusetts will always be welcoming and inclusive of students of color and students historically underrepresented in higher education. Today’s Supreme Court decision overturns decades of settled law. In the Commonwealth, our values and our commitment to progress and continued representation in education remain unshakable.”

Fierce debate led up to the decision on race-conscious admissions. Supporters of the issue argued that eliminating race as a factor in admissions would set the country back generations, after years of progress in lifting up underrepresented populations in higher education. Opponents have countered that using race as a determining factor in admissions is not only unconstitutional, but is no longer necessary because they believe society has progressed to a point where people are treated equally. Polling on the issue has generally found more Americans prefer that race or gender should not be included in determining admissions.

Setting the debate aside, the ruling is expected to have a seismic impact on colleges and universities. Experts say it will make it harder for colleges to have diverse classes and programs and to award grants and scholarships to a widely diverse collection of students.

In a statement from the Association of American Universities (BU is one of its 71 members), AAU President Barbara Snyder said: “AAU institutions will comply with the law as we recognize that equity and excellence are inseparable. We will continue to fulfill our educational and research missions, which require us to acknowledge the importance of diversity throughout the academic enterprise—and especially in student and faculty recruitment and retention.”

Reaction to the decision came from all corners of BU, from students all the way up to Brown, including Kelly Walter, dean of admissions, Sandro Galea, dean of the School of Public Health, Angela Onwuachi-Willig, dean of the School of Law, and others.

Here is a sampling of some campus-wide reactions:

Kelly Walter (Wheelock’81), associate vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions

BU Admissions remains committed to attracting and enrolling a diverse student body. We firmly believe that diversity enriches the educational experience of all students and promotes a deeper understanding of different cultures, perspectives, and ideas. By bringing together students from varied backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities, BU fosters an academic and residential community that encourages intellectual growth, critical thinking, and collaboration. These principles reflect the University’s commitment to the value of diversity, the highest standards of academic excellence, and our unwavering commitment to inclusion and equity.

Access and diversity are integral to BU’s DNA as evidenced by our class profile. While we are disappointed with the decision of the US Supreme Court regarding the consideration of race in admissions, BU Admissions will, to the extent permitted by law, continue to practice holistic admissions to identify students whose varied life experiences, academic interests, and talents will contribute to the dynamic educational environment of the University.

Angela Onwuachi-Willig, dean of the BU School of Law and Ryan Roth Gallo & Ernest J. Gallo Professor of Law

Today, the US Supreme Court issued an opinion that holds that Harvard College and the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill violated the Equal Protection Clause in their use of race in their admissions processes. To say that we are disappointed by this decision is an understatement. The Court’s substantial narrowing of nearly 50 years of precedent is a grievous step backward, but it will not diminish our longstanding commitment to prepare “a diverse body of students for the ethical practice of law around the globe at the highest levels of quality and integrity.”

This commitment is part of our institutional DNA. More than 150 years ago, the founders of Boston University School of Law (BU Law) broke with this nation’s then widely accepted, but unjust norms of racial segregation to welcome students of all races, genders, and religions. Precisely because of our founders’ commitment to diversity, BU Law has produced an impressive roster of alumni, diverse across many dimensions, who have literally changed the course of history.

Take, for example, Willard Brown from the Classes of 1935 (LLB) and 1936 (LLM). Brown attended BU Law in part because he was not permitted to attend the law school in his home state of West Virginia. Rather than desegregate its own law school, the state of West Virginia chose instead to pay Brown’s tuition to attend BU Law, only to see him return after graduation and bring lawsuit after lawsuit that dismantled racial segregation within its borders. Or, consider Barbara Jordan, from the Class of 1959, who became the first woman elected to the Texas State Senate and the first Black woman from the deep South to be elected to the US House of Representatives. Representative Jordan sponsored measures that established the first minimum-wage law in Texas as well as the Texas Fair Employment Practices Commission. Moreover, her demonstrated commitment to the US Constitution during the impeachment hearings of President Richard Nixon helped to restore the public’s faith in our nation’s democracy.

Consider as well Clarence Jones, also from the Class of 1959, who served as a political adviser, personal attorney, and speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (also an alumnus of Boston University). Jones smuggled notes out of Dr. King’s cell in Birmingham, Ala., to distribute “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to the public. He helped successfully represent Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the case of NY Times v. Sullivan, which protected the First Amendment rights of everyday people by limiting the ability of US public officials to sue for defamation, which in turn made it difficult for powerful public figures to use defamation lawsuits to intimidate and silence their critics. And, Jones helped pen Dr. King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech to inspire a nation to live up to its values of liberty and justice for all.

Finally, think now about both Abby Rubenfeld and John Ward from the Classes of 1979 and 1976, respectively. Rubenfeld represented the Tennessee plaintiffs in the landmark Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right, and Ward, Boston’s first openly gay male attorney, founded Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD, now known as GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders) and was the first openly gay man to argue a case before the US Supreme Court.

These are just a few of BU Law’s trailblazers, people whose racial backgrounds or sexuality may have kept them out of some other law schools at the time, but whom BU Law admitted. Each of these lawyers arrived at our hallowed halls with their own experiences and stories, all of which enriched the learning environment at BU Law for both students and faculty. Each of these individuals, among many of our graduates, made our nation—and our world—more prosperous and egalitarian.

Although the Court’s decision in SFFA v. Harvard/UNC fails to appreciate the pedagogical and societal values of diversity, BU Law will continue to promote these core values. Consistent with the law, BU Law will continue to urge students from a range of backgrounds to apply to the law school and will continue to send a clear message that they are welcomed here. Nothing in SFFA prevents us from pursuing the excellence manifested in the experiences of our students. Accordingly, we will encourage students to employ their freedom of expression to articulate their life stories—including those narratives that intersect with race—in ways that capture and do not compromise important dimensions of who they are.

We have no intention of rolling the clock backwards vis-à-vis our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Boston University School of Law was at the forefront of racial equality more than 150 years ago when it was founded. Today, we affirm our commitment to racial integration and to an institutional environment in which every student feels welcomed and in which every student can thrive.

Robert A. Brown, BU president

When I walk around campus or look out at the freshmen at matriculation in September or our graduates on Nickerson Field, I can see the diversity of our community. We have been intentional in building an academic community based on inclusive excellence, and I believe the result is a model for the country.

The rulings of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)—in cases addressing the admissions practices at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina—are profoundly disappointing because they take us backward, potentially creating less diverse college campuses and a less just America. These decisions are antithetical to Boston University’s values and mission.

The ruling limits powerful tools that universities have used to promote access and diversity. We are reviewing the decision to better understand what it means for our admissions and academic practices and the changes we may be required to make. That process will take some time. In the meantime, we do know there are things that will not change. Boston University is committed to inclusive excellence, built on a diverse student body. To the extent permitted by law, we will sustain this commitment by:

Working to attract a student body that is racially and ethnically diverse. We will continue to recruit students from underrepresented communities and encourage them to apply and attend Boston University.

Evaluating student applications by considering the totality of an individual’s background and experience and potential for success at Boston University, with a continued commitment to inclusive excellence.

Maintaining those financial aid policies that open our doors to economically disadvantaged students and have made our undergraduate student body the most diverse in the institution’s history.

Maintaining those programs that support students from diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds and foster a sense of belonging in our community.

Our obligation is to be an academic community devoted to inclusive excellence in everything we do and to ensure that our community is welcoming, inclusive, and accessible so that it can be a shining example for how our society can move forward in making our ideals realities.

Victoria Sahani, associate provost for community and inclusion and professor of law, BU School of Law

As President Brown articulated in his recent Letter to the Community, Boston University stands unwavering in its commitment to diversifying the body of students, faculty, and staff that make up our community. The spirit of this commitment is enshrined in BU’s founding documents and evidenced by the progress BU has made during its 184-year history. Our mission to diversify the University is ongoing, and the urgency of our journey is underscored by this United States Supreme Court decision.

Within the Office of the Provost, the Community and Inclusion (C&I) organization is dedicated to implementing BU’s commitment to serving our diverse student, faculty, and staff communities in alignment with two crucial pillars of the BU 2030 strategic plan: “Community, Big Yet Small” and “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” C&I will continue to support and enrich the experiences of diverse student communities through the Newbury Center’s support for first-generation students in scholastic achievement and professional development and the BU Arts Initiative’s contributions to student well-being across all identities through artmaking opportunities and engagement with diverse artists and subject areas. In addition, we will continue to support diverse faculty and staff by carrying out the crucial work spearheaded by BU Diversity & Inclusion, the Center for LGBTQIA+ Faculty & Staff, and Organizational Development & Learning within Human Resources to support the recruitment, retention, and thriving of diverse faculty and staff at BU, especially those from historically excluded racial and ethnic groups and other historically marginalized backgrounds. Finally, in fall 2023, C&I will unveil the results of the first-ever University-wide Belonging and Culture Survey and the next steps for implementing changes based on the survey’s findings to make Boston University a leader in fostering institutional and intersectional diversity, equity, and inclusion support for students, faculty, and staff in higher education. We will share further updates on our initiatives in the coming months.

As we have seen in states like California, where Proposition 209 banned affirmative action in public college and university admissions in 1996, decisions like the US Supreme Court’s have a direct negative impact on higher education institutions’ ability to diversify their student bodies. To maintain and increase diversity among our student body, BU is working on revised approaches to student recruitment efforts in response to this changed legal landscape.

This decision also comes at a time when some states have passed legislation directly attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion units in higher education, curbing academic freedom through the implementation of post-tenure review faculty processes, and attempting to limit the teaching of topics related to past and current injustices against people of color in the United States. Although troubling, these attacks also galvanize BU’s commitment to continuing the vital work of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Photo: A young white woman with brown hair and wearing a green shirt smiles for the camera s as sits in an orange lawn chair.

Betsy Walters (GRS’25)

I think it was Justice Jackson who mentioned in her dissents, “Let them eat cake” obliviousness. I think that kind of summarizes how I feel about the decision. And I’m glad that she articulated it. I don’t want to claim expertise on the subject, but this doesn’t seem to affect legacy admissions, which heavily benefit a lot of white students. So I think race is embedded in ways that it’s very disingenuous to suggest that it’s not already a factor. Colleges must make every effort to reach as many diverse students in as many ways as possible.

Photo by Cydney Scott

Jorge Delva, dean of the BU School of Social Work

This is deeply disappointing news and one that is a setback and at odds with the values and mission of BU and our school.

As President Brown has explained, BU is reviewing the decision to better understand the implications for the University. However, I want to unequivocally state that the SCOTUS decision in no way changes our commitment to a diverse student community. We will redouble our efforts to grow and support racial and ethnic diversity at our school and will work closely with central administration to ensure we do so within the parameters of the law. We will not let this decision hinder our ongoing efforts to recruit students from underrepresented communities, and we will continue to support them in their journey as they apply to, and attend, SSW.

As we have always done when evaluating student applications, we will continue to holistically consider an individual’s background and experiences and their potential for success and contribution to society—guided by our school’s vision and mission. It is our intention to maintain those financial aid policies that open our doors to economically disadvantaged students—policies that have made our student body the most diverse in our school’s history. And, finally, to the extent permitted by law, we will maintain those programs that support students from diverse backgrounds and embed them in our community. Guided by our professional values and commitment to a more just society, the school will continue its robust program of research and scholarship to further advance social, racial, and economic justice.

As we continue to learn more about the implications of the decision, we will keep you updated on programmatic and policy changes we may need to consider. We are open to hearing thoughts and ideas from our community to help inform the strategies we will develop to navigate this new landscape. We want to also ensure that everyone understands the ramifications of this decision and the parameters that we will need to work within moving forward.

Sandro Galea, dean of the BU School of Public Health and Robert A. Knox Professor

While this decision had been long expected, it is still disappointing, a setback for the work of shaping more equitable admissions processes. The ruling poses a challenge to the promotion of diversity within higher education and runs counter to a vision of work founded on creating pathways for underserved communities.

As this evolves, I wanted to reflect on this moment from the perspective of public health. As a school we remain committed to shaping a diverse, inclusive community that is representative of the populations we serve. As with past Court decisions, while the legality around key issues may change, often with implications for public health, the core principles which underlie our work will continue to be as they have always been. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion remains a central value which serves as an organizing principle for all we do.

This commitment is also core to the broader work of public health. I have frequently written about how, for public health to be most effective, it needs to be informed by a diverse range of identities and perspectives. It is through this diversity that we are better able to engage with populations that have been overlooked, whose health suffers as a consequence of being excluded from the resources that support health, including access to education. Our goal as a school is to always find ways of being more welcoming, more accessible to students from a range of backgrounds, towards becoming the best versions of ourselves as a school community and as a field.

The Court’s decision is the latest development in a long-standing debate about how to best build inclusive campuses in the United States. For a long time—indeed, for much of our history—certain groups were excluded from key institutions in this country. This could take the form of official policy or de facto exclusion. Even after changes to our laws made this illegal, generations of exclusion left their mark, with many groups far from fully represented. Today, forces like racism and economic disadvantage continue to prevent many from accessing the resources that support academic development from an early age, limiting opportunities for pursuing higher education later. The animating principle behind considering race in college admissions was to counterbalance this injustice, acknowledging the generations of unfairness and underrepresentation that led to disadvantage in the present.

While the laws about race and university admissions may change, the realities of this history remain. It seems important therefore that, rather than seeing this as a moment to retreat, we see it as a moment to reinvigorate and reimagine how we engage with our pursuit of a diverse, inclusive academic community. While working in accordance with the law, we have a chance to use this moment to be productive, imaginative, and innovative in making sure our school remains a welcoming place, supported by an admissions process that reflects our values. This means continuing to work towards a process that considers the full range of applicants’ experience, evaluating the whole person. It also means continuing to offer financial aid options to help ensure that lack of resources is not a barrier to entry for applicants.

While the Court’s decision poses challenges, we have faced challenges before. They are an opportunity to be more thoughtful, more creative, more persistent in our pursuit of a better world. As an academic institution, we will continue to support students from a range of diverse backgrounds, to welcome them into our community, in keeping with our fundamental values. As a public health community, we will continue to address the history that has led to inequities in education, opportunity, and health.

In our admissions materials, we pose a question to students who are thinking about applying to our program: What if you could change the world for a living? Each year, we receive applications from students who are eager to do just that. They come from many backgrounds, with many interests, each with something unique to add to the life of our school. Their willingness to engage in the work of public health is a source of continual inspiration and hope. We have a responsibility to remain an institution that is worthy of their interest in us. I look forward to working with the community to ensure we continue to do so, now and in the years to come.

Iffah Liyakath (CAS’26)

I am Muslim, so I am a minority and a person of color. When I applied to college, people were saying to me, ‘If you’re accepted, it’s because your race had an effect.’ And that was kind of annoying, because there is so much more to students than the color of their skin. But it’s also an important factor, because the reason [admissions departments] keep track of demographic and diversity data, is because you don’t want an all homogeneous population.

I’m East Asian and I don’t want my race to be the only thing that defines me. And I don’t think a lot of POC people do because it’s [often] the defining factor. The first thing you learn when you’re younger is that you’re different because of the color of your skin. For admissions you should be judged on who you are as a person, and what you bring [to a school] in terms of academics.

Cosette Upender, high school student from Mountain View, Calif., attending BU’s Summer Challenge program

I think it’s pretty unfortunate for students of color coming from underprivileged areas, because they often don’t have as much access, support, and resources. Now with this decision, they will have even less support. I feel like [colleges] should be able to ask about race because if [they] are asking questions such as, ‘Are you a first generation student?’ it’s pretty similar. They can ask if you’re an immigrant, right? So hopefully they can [achieve] some sort of diversity with that.

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There are 18 comments on Disappointed and Determined, BU Community Reacts to SCOTUS Affirmative Action Ruling

Ari Trachtenberg

June 29, 2023 at 3:55 pm

It’s interesting that you note that “Polling on the issue has generally found more Americans prefer that race or gender should not be included in determining admissions”, and yet all but one of your quotes seems to be viscerally against the SCOTUS decision.

Clearly, BU does not, in any way, represent the full diversity of the American public.

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1. Mike B Siroky, MD
  
  June 30, 2023 at 8:24 pm
  
  Opinion in American academia is as un-diverse as can be imagined.
  
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  1. PD Roepe
    
    July 10, 2023 at 10:47 am
    
    There is a large difference between “the full diversity of the American public” and diversity of “opinion” as cited in the first reply to this point. But leaving that aside for the moment, to some degree of course faculty at any University (including BU) certainly do not represent “the full diversity of the American public”; this is rather easily explained by U.S. census data (pasted below) and noting that faculty in American academia tend to have advanced degrees in part because their employers tend to require them. So with regard to the initial post, it’s just statistics. With respect to the point in the first reply, this is more complicated and best I know is not addressed by census data.
    
    In 2021, the highest level of education of the population age 25 and older in the United States was distributed as follows:
    8.9% had less than a high school diploma or equivalent.
    27.9% had high school graduate as their highest level of school completed.
    14.9% had completed some college but not a degree.
    10.5% had an associate degree as their highest level of school completed.
    23.5% had a bachelor’s degree as their highest degree.
    14.4% had completed an advanced degree such as a master’s degree, professional degree or doctoral degree.
    
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Wm Bloom

June 30, 2023 at 8:18 am

I will take equality of opportunity over equity of outcome. A more perfect union, indeed and in comparison. Yet there is work to do as long as humans are cursed/blessed with reason.

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Michael Singer

June 30, 2023 at 8:40 am

Article claims to describe how the “BU community” feels about affirmative action. Really? Responsible journalism would state the fact that that is the view of the BU woke community. I’m sure there are thousands of students who oppose favoring one race over another.

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1. Gordon Zuerndorfer
  
  June 30, 2023 at 1:19 pm
  
  Hear hear.
  
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DANIEL SABIA

June 30, 2023 at 8:49 am

You would not choose a basketball team on the basis of affirmative action. And it was never intended to be a permanent fix either.

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Withheld

June 30, 2023 at 9:10 am

Notice that none of the faculty or staff is speaking up on the side against AA. The career cost of going against the DEI narrative (such as merely observing the racial and nationality disparity in test scores even after normalizing for income). I have seen this tacit strong-arming of even tenured faculty.

Students, on the other hand, are more risk-prone and have less to lose. Of course they’ll be more vocal on the empirical side of the issue.

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Gilbert LItalien

June 30, 2023 at 9:13 am

As a BU alumni (SPH ‘97), I was very encouraged to hear that you will maintain and hopefully enrich your policy of diversity in student enrollment . It is particularly important to support enrollment among students in underserved communities

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Henry Lu

June 30, 2023 at 11:28 am

It is absolutely wonderful that the race base discrimination policy known as affirmative action was ruled unconstitutional. It’s disgusting to see so many on the left come out to say that they will affirm new race based forms of discrimination after their previous scheme was ruled unconstitutional. Members of the left, please tell us why you hate asians so much, and why you continue to try to codify your racism…

Some of us would like a color-blind society, while the left only cares about the skin color of applicants. Racism is alive and well, and it’s propagated through policy by the left.

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John S

June 30, 2023 at 12:21 pm

Consider this. Is it not hypocritical for White and Asian faculty members and students – who already have got their tenure appointment or admission letter – to sacrifice other White and Asian persons on the altar of diversity? I am curious as to why these particular Whites and Asians have the golden ticket, but other fully-qualified Whites and Asians must give up their opportunity for the “greater good” of diversity and inclusion.

Were these particular individuals just “lucky”?

Who gets to decide which Whites and Asians are so special that they are “above diversity”?

If you truly believe that Whites and Asians have been over-privileged and need to allow other races to step up… why not set the example yourself?

Shouldn’t you practice what you preach?

Where is my logic faulty?

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BU Student

June 30, 2023 at 8:13 pm

Really disappointed. In a perfect world, of course I would wish for every race to be represented equally in a college institution, without any particular race being underrepresented. Affirmative action undoubtedly promotes diversity and offers opportunities to those who have historically faced disadvantages. However, are we prioritizing diversity, which individuals have no control over, over hard work and meritocracy?If a person’s race at birth determines whether they must work two times harder than someone of another race, is that truly the foundation of an equal and just society? Not only does affirmative action hurt white and asian students, it could also hurt underrepresented groups. No one wants to question or be seen as primarily admitted based on their race or ethnicity rather than their abilities. It is ironic that our school prides itself on progressiveness against racism and discrimination, yet we are actively discriminating against certain groups based on the color of their skin, taking away their spots in favor of someone else due to their race. This issue extends beyond college admissions; it permeates every aspect of society. The moment we prioritize race over merit, we undermine the principles of fairness and equality that our society strives to uphold. Of course there is that socioeconomic status factor that should be taken into consideration as well, and the government should focus on providing support and resources to underprivileged students, and improving access to quality education. But that is something that isn’t completely in our control. While we can advocate for equitable policies and support initiatives to address socioeconomic disparities, the reality is that systemic issues are deeply ingrained in our society. The same applies to legacy admits and the illegal practice of students buying their way into college. I am specifically directing my attention to the effects of affirmative action (AA) in light of the recent Supreme Court ruling.

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David Anderson

June 30, 2023 at 11:55 pm

The professional workforce needs diversity at the college educated level.
I am a software engineer at a major consumer product company. I interview and hire engineers. I love the diversity of my coworkers! Our company puts considerable effort into hiring diversity, but it’s very hard to hire software engineers who don’t have a college education. Because I want a diverse workforce, I need the college population to be diverse.

The success of my company relies on hiring lots of different kinds of people.
Employees act as the voice of customers while we’re developing a product. In order to build the most functional and appealing anything, we must employ people of different body shapes, socioeconomic power, disabilities, hobbies, and languages. We should hire parents, singles, youth, elders, paraplegics, Asians, Africans, Americans, Germans, New Zealanders, tennis players, rock climbers, golfers, rich, poor, rural and urban dwellers. Diversity of the workforce isn’t for show – it’s practical. While a racially diverse population doesn’t guarantee this diversity of experiences, it certainly helps!

I’m disappointed by SCOTUS’s regressive decision.
I think it hurts our society. I encourage BU to find creative solutions to continue to build a diverse campus, despite this decision. I’m worried that now only resourceful, well-coached applicants will know to mention diversity in their application essays. Admissions should strive to add legally-allowed, useful questions to the application that achieve the goal of building a diverse community of learners and teachers. Please continue to recruit from a wide variety of sources. Please hire staff and faculty from a diverse set of backgrounds.

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1. Ari Trachtenberg
  
  July 2, 2023 at 12:19 am
  
  The particular activity in question at Harvard involves making it *much* harder for Asian Americans to be admitted into the university.
  
  Do you think it is moral for a software companies to limit how many Asian Americans they hire, in the name of diversity? Is it fair to punish an innocent, hard-working Asian immigrant for the racism practiced by people that had absolutely no connection to with him some 100 years ago in this country?
  
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  1. Wade Wilson
    
    July 3, 2023 at 7:40 am
    
    Exactly! I agree with you and the Supreme Court. Colleges should accept students based on their ability rather than on their race. There shouldn’t be quotas on specific races to be admitted. For example, if one group of people outperforms most people, they should be all admitted regardless of their race quota. They shouldn’t be rejected because there is a limit to a specific group of people colleges can accept. This is actually fair. For example, think about a soccer team. Should they care about the race of the players? No, the team only cares about your ability that will contribute to the team, not because of the race quota they have to have a specific group of people on the team. Otherwise, why would they work hard for something if their hard work does not pay off because there is a limit to the number of specific groups of people?
    
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Steven

July 1, 2023 at 8:20 am

If you can’t handle a court decision that you don’t like, you need to forget about practicing law.

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mike thine

July 9, 2023 at 1:38 pm

“Disappointed” in the affirmative action ruling? Who wrote this? This is probably one of the greatest, and long time in coming, decisions. Affirmative action should have been buried before it became an actual “thing.” It is one of the most racist ideas ever contrived by law.

Oh, please be sure to judge people by the color of their skin. Isn’t this the very definition of racism? As a graduate, I am heartily pleased by this decision. Affirmative action = racism. Good riddance.

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WITHHELD, J.D.

May 12, 2024 at 10:54 am

“Disappointed” you say? Try elated. Racism has no place in admission standards or anywhere else for this matter. The whole conception and application of Affirmative Action is perhaps the grossest damage the “woke” has ever inflicted.

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Disappointed and Determined, BU Community Reacts to SCOTUS Affirmative Action Ruling

Officials vow to remain committed to building a diverse student body, with no intention of “rolling back the clock” to a time when DEI issues did not matter

Disappointed and Determined, BU Community Reacts to SCOTUS Affirmative Action Ruling

Officials vow to remain committed to building a diverse student body, with no intention of “rolling back the clock” to a time when DEI issues did not matter

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