US Supreme Court bans colleges from considering race in admissions

The United States Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that race can no longer be considered a factor during admission to universities, the BBC reported.

The court observed that affirmative action admissions programs violate the US Constitution’s promise of equal protection under the law.

Affirmative action, also known as positive discrimination, aims to counter historical patterns of prejudice against underrepresented groups. In terms of education, it helps in promoting diversity on campuses.

In his ruling, Chief Justice John G Roberts said that students must be treated based on their experiences as an individual and not on the basis of race, reported The Washington Post.

“Many universities have for too long done just the opposite,” he wrote. “And in doing so, they have concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenged bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the colour of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice.”

The court was hearing two pleas involving admissions at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. The court voted 6-2 in the case involving Harvard and 6-3 against the University of North Carolina.

In her dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jabans colleges from considering race in admissionsckson, the first Black woman appointed to the court, said the decision was truly a tragedy, according to the Associated Press.

“...Today, the...

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