Southern California educators and leaders split over Supreme Court affirmative action ruling – Daily News
Southern California legislators, community leaders and educators have had mixed reactions to the incident. New Supreme Court Decision It prohibits affirmative action in most college admissions.
National Supreme Court on Thursday Rejects affirmative action, declares race cannot be a factor When deciding whether or not to enroll someone in college.Supreme Court Decision Bans Current Law race-sensitive admissions policy Harvard and the University of North Carolina – and that changes Over 40 Years of Case Law It is used by many US universities to diversify their campuses.
“For too long, many colleges and universities have mistakenly concluded that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not the challenges overcome, the skills developed, or the lessons learned, but the color of their skin,” says John Roberts. The Chief Justice said in court. Judgment of 6-3. “The constitutional history of this country does not condone that choice.”
California has banned affirmative action in public college admissions since 1996. And in 2020, California voters overwhelmingly rejected Proposition 16, the ballot measure that would have reinstated it.
The judge’s ruling could affect the admissions policies of the state’s private colleges. Schools will also need to reduce affirmative action in the future. College-bound students who travel outside of California for education will also be affected.
Affirmative action advocates and schools have long advocated it to address racial inequalities and increase student graduation rates.
Proponents of the ruling argued that affirmative action violated laws against racial discrimination, and that such policies affected some groups more than other groups, such as Asian Americans and white students. It claims to favor groups, particularly Black, Latino, and Native American students.
Ibert Schultz is black college successa program for black high school students in south Los Angeles Schultz said black students “will pay the highest price.”
“This decision introduces the same kind of ‘color-blind’ policy we’ve seen in California since Proposition 209, leaving practices such as tradition and sports orientation untouched and unfair to an already unfair admissions process. It further cemented equality and now applies to all universities.”Students are already against it,” Schultz said.
Asian-American Southern California leaders who advocate for justice condemned the decision in a statement. statement.
“Let me be clear: Attacks on affirmative action harm all people of color, including Asian Americans,” it read. CEO Connie Zhang Zhou said, “A racially diverse student population enhances learning and fosters an understanding of each student’s lived experience.”
Elected officials’ reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision was partisan, with California Governor Gavin Newsom lashing out at the decision.
Rep. Corey Jackson (D. Perris) also expressed disappointment.
“This ruling further undermines the failed color-blind social experiment, because if you can’t see me, you can’t serve me or meet the unique needs shared by African Americans.” , this theory has been proven false,” Jackson said. statement. “California has long prided itself on our commitment to fairness, and now is the time to deliver on that promise.”
Rep. Sidney Kamlager Dove (D-Los Angeles) called Thursday’s ruling “a dark day for equality and democracy that turns the clock on civil rights.” She called for increased access to education and employment opportunities for people of color.
“The court today made the wrong choice by ruling to ignore race in a country that has yet to accept a history rooted in racism,” she said.
However, Rep. Michelle Steele (R-Seal Beach) praised the decision.and statementSteele said U.S. universities were “turning against Asian Americans in the name of diversity.”
“I moved to this country from South Korea to get an education when I was 19,” Steele said. “I live the American Dream because success in this country depends on what you do, not your race or ethnicity. …Today’s victory marks a new chapter in the fight for equality in education.” will be greeted.”
Rep. Young Kim (R, Anaheim Hills) also applauded the ruling, saying: Says “Unrealistic policies keep the American dream out of reach. We shouldn’t hold back students or send the dangerous message that their race and background matter more than their strengths and character. ”
Over 60% of Americans feel the Supreme Court should not prevent colleges from considering race and ethnicity in admissions decisions. recent polls Found from the Associated Press-NORC Public Relations and Research Center. A Pew Research Center study also found that: Half of Americans don’t support affirmative action33% agree.
Educators in California were also divided over the landmark ruling.
USC President Carol Fort said the decision currently affects private universities, but not the university’s commitment to equity and diversity.
“This decision does not affect our commitment to building a diverse and inclusive campus that welcomes talent from all backgrounds,” Fort said. “We will not turn back.”
Although there was no direct impact on the University of California system, leaders were disappointed. UC Riverside President Kim Wilcox guaranteed “Diversity is, and will continue to be, an important aspect of fulfilling our obligations and mission. We practice inclusive excellence to strengthen and serve the diverse people of our state, which is and will continue to be part of our campus identity.”
In a statement posted on social media, Los Angeles Unified Education Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and LAUSD leaders said:That’s horribleThe Supreme Court said in its ruling that it “chosen the side of privilege and structural racism.”
Debra Dualdo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Education, reconfirmed The county is committed to “building and maintaining a truly inclusive and equitable education system” for its students.
Myra Lara, a Long Beach resident and director of Southern California partnerships and engagement for Education Trust West, said the ruling could mean college campuses “may no longer be able to reflect the diversity of the country.” warned.
“Students may feel it deeply, and it may affect how they spend their college life,” said Lara. “Anecdotal data shows that being one of the few students of color on a college campus is detrimental. We know the Supreme Court is powerful, but so are our students, who can be resilient advocates themselves.”
Bay Area News Group staff writer Elissa Myoline, Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.
https://www.dailynews.com/2023/06/29/southern-california-educators-leaders-split-on-supreme-courts-affirmative-action-ruling/ Southern California educators and leaders split over Supreme Court affirmative action ruling – Daily News