United States: positive discrimination at the university again in question

Affirmative action at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (here, September 20, 2018), and at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, are again in question.

REUTERS - JONATHAN DRAKE

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear two affirmative action cases at two of the country's oldest and most prestigious universities.

Once again, it therefore plans to reconsider its case law.

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With our correspondent in Washington,

For more than 40 years, many organizations, mainly conservative, have challenged in court the procedures for

on the basis of race.

And for more than 40 years, the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of taking into account the criterion of race in the selection at the entrance to the university to make room in particular for African-Americans.

This time, it is Harvard University, the oldest private university in the country, and the University of North Carolina, the oldest public university, which are targeted.

The leaders of these prestigious institutions make it known that race is only one criterion among others, along with the academic results and the personality of the candidates, and that this allows them to constitute a more diverse and representative student body.

Decision not before 2023

As for the right to abortion or the legislation on weapons, the Court could therefore review its case law, reaffirmed on many occasions.

The reason ?

Always the same: the change of majority.

They are now six conservatives against three liberals.

In addition, Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative but often seeking to foster compromise among his colleagues, has repeatedly made clear his outspoken opposition to affirmative action.

The Court is expected to hear each other's arguments from October and the decision is not expected before the spring or summer of 2023. 

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• United States

• Education

• Racism