For some Black students the Supreme Court decision to end affirmative action in college admissions was disappointing but not surprising. Although senior Katie Williams had anticipated the ruling for two years, she said the finality of the decision feels restrictive as she now must find other ways to incorporate her racial identity in her applications. However, for some of her peers, the termination of affirmative action is perceived in a more positive light. 

As Lab is closely connected to a top university, there is a stark difference in how U-High students view the end of affirmative action in college admissions depending on their racial identity and political stances.

Some students, like senior Robert Groves, who identifies as white, believe that ending affirmative action in the college admissions process is a welcome change. 

“I think overall it’s a complex issue, but it was probably the best thing,” Robert said. “When you start to consider factors like race and gender, there’s less of an emphasis on merit and things you can control.”

Others, like senior Leila Battiste, who identifies as Black, strongly disagree with the decision because of the decrease in diversity it may cause within college campuses.

“Many people think that affirmative action is favoritism,” Leila said, “but the system is meant to increase and sustain races and all minority groups at the most disadvantage. The system has, and never will, favor POC and minority groups.”

Some students don’t find the issue quite as straightforward. Junior Jack Colyer, who identifies as white, disagrees with the ruling but also believes it may benefit his application.  

“I mean being realistic, it might help my chances at college,” Jack said. “That being said, I don’t think it was necessarily the right thing to do. I mean, I think it hurt more people than it helped because the people it helped are generally going to get into somewhere anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. It’s more hurting the people who don’t have those opportunities.”

Regardless of their opinions about this decision, students wonder what this really means for the college admissions process in the coming years and their own applications.  

Katie said, “There’s just, like, an unknown future of how that impacts us and our future.”

University of Chicago Law School Professor Geoffrey R. Stone, a former dean, explained what the end of affirmative action means for students entering the college application process in the following interview. As law school dean, he witnessed the effects of affirmative action on the university. Professor Stone’s responses were lightly edited for length, clarity and style. 

How does the decision impact the college admissions process?

“The decision says that it is impermissible for a college or university to explicitly take race into account in making admissions decisions. In the past, an institution could take into account race as one of the factors to create diversity and to address past discrimination when looking at its application group. And now, they cannot do that.”

How does the decision impact the application process for students?

“In the essay portion of the application, you can certainly talk about whatever your background is, whether it’s a woman or a gay or male, Black or white or Hispanic or whatever. And you can talk about that in the context of the essays. And particularly, if you’re from a group that is disadvantaged, you can talk about how you’ve dealt with that. And the college or university will be aware of that information. The difference is, applications cannot be discussed on the basis of race, but on the basis of the character of the individual and how their race has affected their experiences.” 

How can students include race in applications?

“One thing they can do in theory is, since [admission officers] can take character and experience into account, then, they can say that Black applicants have had a much more difficult time in our society, and therefore, they will likely to be the beneficiaries of giving credit to people who’ve had to overcome those difficulties. Not literally because you’re Black, but because with the stories they tell in their applications. So there is some ambiguity in the decision.”

What implications will large institutions witness as a result of the decision?

“As has been the case in states which themselves have abolished and prohibited affirmative action, like say, California, there has been a significant decline in the number of Black students at these law schools, many major universities. And the negative effect that has had, I think, is both in terms of the experience of the students at those institutions and in terms of the disadvantage imposed upon the progress of Black citizens in our society.”

Will there be a decrease in diversity in higher education?

Unless they can find ways to circumvent the decision. You know, one thing they can do in theory is, since they can take character and experience into account, then they can of course say that Black applicants have had a much more difficult time in our society, and therefore, they will likely to be the beneficiaries of giving credit to people who’ve had to overcome those difficulties. Not literally because you’re Black, but because with the stories they tell in their applications. So there is some ambiguity about the extent to which they can do that. But it’s not going to be the same as it is today.