PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Colleges and universities around the country are awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on the legality of using race as a factor in admissions.
“The program itself was supposed to correct decades, if not centuries, of racial discrimination that was prohibiting black people from entering into post-secondary institutions,” said Timothy Welbeck, civil rights attorney and director for Temple University’s Center for Anti-Racism.
The justices are considering two cases filed against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina in 2022. They allege discrimination against Asian students.
Welbeck expects the court will overturn affirmative action in whole, or in part.
He believes affirmative action will be overturned in part because the composition of the court has changed. Welbeck said, particularly, the current composition of the court has demonstrated a willingness to overturn precedent. But he noted how “colleges that value diversity, equity and inclusion can look at finding creative ways to ensure that they're targeting a diverse admissions class.”
Welbeck says schools can target students within certain zip codes or income brackets to help even the playing field.
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He also pointed to last year’s ruling that voided Roe v. Wade after three of the at-the-time most recently confirmed justices said they would honor precedent.
He said if it is overturned, there “could be interpretations that could lend themselves into dismantling race as a consideration in all types of admissions practices or hiring decisions, which would be terribly unfortunate if that were the case.”
Harvard and University of North Carolina both deny the accusations. A ruling is expected by month's end.
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