Amidst the last few years of political uproar, the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overrule affirmative action has left America to pick up the pieces.
The constant debates over its necessity and effectiveness is a surprise to absolutely no one, but still, the idea is clear: affirmative action serves as a vital tool in addressing both historical and systematic inequalities, withstanding its role in fostering equity and diversity in our coveted college admissions process.
The initial intention for affirmative action has always been rooted in allocating more seats at universities to minority groups, on the basis of race, including the careful consideration of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans.
By taking away affirmative action, high school applicants are deprived of equal opportunity for higher education, as their applications are evaluated without accounting for factors beyond an applicant’s control, such as socioeconomic standing or systemic racial barriers. Socioeconomic obstacles include students who take on part time jobs, taking time away from possible school activities as well as lower funded high schools who are unable to get their students involved with prestigious outside organizations.
Implicit biases, or unconscious attitudes or stereotypes, can greatly influence the probability of college acceptances. Affirmative action helped counteract these biases by creating policies that deliberately considered applicants from ‘underrepresented’ groups, allowing for fairer evaluations and a more balanced selection process. Through this process, not only were students’ grades and test scores considered, but their leadership, passions, and characteristics were assessed.
Through such an admissions process, diversity of universities is boosted by ensuring that institutions reflect the full spectrum of backgrounds and experiences present in society. Exposure to a variety of perspectives and cultures fosters a more inclusive environment that not only brightens a university’s campus, but also leads to the elimination of racial or ethnic prejudices in the near future.
For high school students, the reversal of affirmative action entails the core principles of this concept overlooked. As 30 percent of our students here at DBHS are a part of systematic minority groups, the possibility of these students’ potential being overlooked heightens, widening the gap in equity in the college admissions process.
Affirmative action remains a critical tool in the pursuit of social justice, equity and diversity. By promoting diversity, counteracting implicit bias and fostering equal opportunities for applicants, it plays a vital role in creating a more inclusive society.
