Originally published: . Volume 14, No. 7. Source pages: 3.
In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, found that a strict interpretation of the 14th Amendment, prohibits favoring individuals based on race.
The case had to do with the admissions practices of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. The court said that Harvard’s selection program discriminated against students of Asian origin by giving preferential consideration to black, Hispanic, and Native American students.
Gov. John Bel Edwards provided a comment on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end affirmative action in college admissions:
“All colleges and universities are better and stronger because of their diversity, and having students from all backgrounds enriches the experiences of everyone. That is why increased diversity should always be our goal. While this decision by the U.S. Supreme Court may weaken that effort across the nation, the fact is that here in Louisiana all qualified students are admitted to our public universities and community and technical colleges. This is as it should be since education is the greatest pathway to improving a person’s quality of life. Our state remains committed to expanding educational opportunities for everyone.”
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.