New Book Display: Affirmative Action

On June 29th, 2023, the Supreme Court effectively ended race conscious admissions practices in higher education with a 6-3 conservative majority decision. The two cases, Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, overturned 45 years of legal precedent that allowed race to be used in admissions criteria.

Since 1978, with the Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case, the Court viewed affirmative action as lawful; this ruling was tested and upheld many times in subsequent cases, including lawsuits where white women claimed unfair practices in higher education admission because of their race.

While colleges and universities may consider income or class rankings in admissions criteria, larger questions about diversity, equity, and inclusion remain. How will less emphasis on race in higher education ultimately affect the workplace? Compounding the picture is the continuing decline of college enrollment, largely due to the student debt crisis. With tuition growing faster than income, student loan debt is a trillion dollar problem for Americans, despite government efforts to forgive loans.
 Affirmative Action explores the history, impact, and controversy surrounding this important topic. It urges us to consider how institutions can adapt their policies and practices, while preserving their commitment to social justice, equitable access to education, and institutional aid.

The book display includes a suggestion box that offers opportunities for reflection: 1) Summarize in one word how you feel about the latest court ruling; and 2) What would you like to see or do moving forward in response to the Supreme Court decision?  Answers will be shared anonymously (or not) with the Teachers College Working Group on Affirmative Action.

Where: Everett Cafe

At Everett Cafe, you'll find a new book collection every few weeks that relates to current events, education, or learning environments.