Just hours after the Supreme Court announced its decision to hear the two lawsuits challenging the University’s use of race in admissions, students debated how discussion on campus could be affected by the impending date with the nine justices.
LSA senior Kendra Bryne said she thinks the split between students opposed to race-conscious admissions policies and those in favor of such procedures will become more apparent.
“I hope there is more of a division because that would mean people are talking and thinking about it,” Bryne said, adding it is important for people to stop perceiving the use of race as a factor in admissions as an example of awarding superficial advantages to underrepresented groups.
Although she said policies should be founded on economic status, not race, School of Art and Design freshman Megan Hildenbrandt said policies employing race in admissions have diverted from their original intentions.
“It was a good idea when it first started, and I think it’s a good idea for people in urban areas, but I wish they could totally change affirmative action so it’s based on financial need rather than skin color and origin.”
Like Bryne, Hildenbrandt said division among members of the University community seems eminent and it is important that the University must remain a place of open discourse to support both sides of the debate.
“I think there will be division,” she said. “Hopefully it won’t become a race thing. Hopefully it will be ethical debate and people will use intelligence – division in thought would be ideal.”