WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 24, 2016) — OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is pleased with the Supreme Court decision regarding affirmative action in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin.
The Supreme Court decided on June 23 to sustain affirmative action policies set by prior Supreme Court precedent. Fisher v. UT Austin is the latest in a series of unsuccessful legal attacks on race-conscious admissions policies by anti-affirmative action groups. In this case, a white woman is suing the University for violating the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment in their decision to decline to admit her. This was the second time this case was heard before the Supreme Court. OCA recently signed onto an amicus brief led by Asian Americans Advancing Justice in strong support of affirmative action policies and race-conscious admissions.
“We are pleased with this ruling by the Supreme Court,” said Leslie Moe-Kaiser, OCA National President. “Affirmative action and race-conscious admissions are two of the most important tools to help maintain the requisite level of diversity in colleges around the country. In our rapidly diversifying society, our children are better served by attending school with a diverse set of peers; so that while they build their formal skills, the growth of their cultural intelligence is not simultaneously stunted. Additionally, many influential leaders of today are the direct result of positive affirmative action policies in education, including many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Without these policies, we can expect to see less diversity at the upper echelons of government and society. Yesterday’s ruling is more than just a question of admissions policies; it is a decision between an America that values fairness and diversity, and one that is concerned with preserving the monolithically white power structures.”
