Ian OrlandUniversities will continue to consider race as a factor in the admissions process if administrators at Washington University have their way.
In an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief submitted to the United States Supreme Court earlier this week, WU joined 37 other universities in arguing “that some consideration of race, as one of any factors in the selection of students for admission to a college or university, comports with the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”
“I think that race and ethnicity are among a wide number of factors that are important in creating a diverse atmosphere,” said Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs Fredric Volkmann. “Universities and colleges have, over time, learned that students expect a full academic experience, which includes the enrichment brought by a campus of diverse students of many backgrounds.”
This statement comes in response to a suit filed by an applicant to the University of Michigan who argued that she was denied admission to the school because of its policy on racial diversity. This suit provoked contentious debate nationwide on the ethics and practice of affirmative action. Arguments for the Michigan case are expected to start before the U.S. Supreme Court on April 1.
The Bush administration filed a brief with the Supreme Court last month denouncing the affirmative action admission policies of the University of Michigan. In response to these statements from the White House, The New York Times reported that more than 60 friend-of-the-court briefs were filed in support of the University of Michigan’s policies. Universities joined corporations and labor unions to support affirmative action in college admissions, all submitting briefs by this week’s deadline.
The brief signed by WU asked that the Supreme Court uphold an earlier decision from 1978, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, which supported the use of affirmative action in admissions. Emory University and Carnegie Mellon University, among others, joined WU in support of this opinion.
“WU supports affirmative action as an effective means of achieving a diverse academic community,” wrote Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton in a statement. “A diverse community strengthens the educational experience for all participants. Universities and colleges have, over time, learned that students expect a full academic experience that includes the enrichment brought by a campus of diverse students of many backgrounds.”
Sophomore Asha Haji, an Urban Scholar at WU, commended the administrators for publicizing their policy on affirmative action. The Urban Scholars program grants black students academic merit-based scholarships.
“I think signing this brief is exactly what they should do,” said Haji. “I think that’s exactly what we stand for at the university-supporting students who work hard and who deserve the resources WU can provide.”
Haji said that affirmative action continues to be necessary.
“There’s a lack of resources in black communities, and affirmative action allows black students and other minorities to be able to have access to the resources that they are constantly denied,” said Haji.
In the brief, the universities espoused the belief that “race is one of many factors that contribute to each student’s perspective and enriches interactions among students.” Applicants, however, are each regarded as individuals, and each school listed denied using any quota system for admission.
Junior Mark Mattes hesitated to endorse WU’s signature on the brief because of his reservations about the fairness of affirmative action. He thinks the validity of students’ credentials should be evaluated with more care.
“If the brief contains some documentation of what affirmative action specifically entails-its validity-then I support it,” said Mattes. “But if it doesn’t give any proof of validity, then I think you don’t go with it.”
Volkmann said that studies of student opinion support WU’s decision.
“Surveys of these students have shown that they want this emphasis and that they consider it a valuable aspect of their academic pursuits as well as enriching their personal lives,” said Volkmann.
Cory Schneider contributed to this article.