Comment on Supreme Court Decision to Hear Challenge to Affirmative Action at Harvard and U.N.C.

NEW YORK — The Supreme Court announced today that it will hear two cases challenging affirmative action at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. The cases will decide whether race-conscious admissions programs are lawful.

Sarah Hinger, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Racial Justice Program, had the following reaction:

“The goal of these suits — to end the consideration of race in college admissions — is extreme, ignores the history of race discrimination, and threatens diversity and inclusion on campuses.

“To prohibit any consideration of race in a holistic admissions review would undermine equality and deny the relevance of individual experiences to the diversity of the student body. Nothing in the Constitution or the record supports banning higher education institutions from considering race in their admission processes.

“Affirmative action helps to create a diverse student body and enriches the educational experience of all students, and it must remain protected by the Supreme Court.”