Statements from the National African Student Association Members Concerning Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action

As an organization that focuses on understanding our member needs and finding resources to assist them in their journey, our discussions with them validated the need for a federal level decision that helps bring equity to the educational system. We may look at the decision as to how it affects college admission, but it has a bigger impact on the economy. As an example, company executives can agree with the fact that DEI has helped them be innovative thus more profitable. With Affirmative Action stripped, it may result in a reduction of the quantity and quality of potential workforce with diverse thought and an even bigger disparity in the median household income for minorities. Below are statements from some of our members on how this decision impacts them:

1. High School members
   • Cinco Ranch High School African Student Association, Katy Texas
     • “While the Supreme Court’s ruling to end Affirmative Action was in an attempt to make college admissions more fair, as Black high school students, we believe that the ruling will actually do the opposite. The purpose of Affirmative Action was to level the playing field for groups that have been systematically denied the opportunity to education, whether it be based on official policies or de facto deprivation of opportunities. The affirmative action decision will impact diversity on campuses and restrict educational opportunities for underprivileged groups that already have difficulties in achieving higher education, reducing opportunities for these students while doing nothing to address the barriers students face based on race or the practice of legacy admissions. We have already seen affirmative action cuts’ effects on racial disparities on many campuses where the program has already been ended. While affirmative action may not be a perfect method to promote diversity, the Supreme Court ruling leaves many schools without any sort of method to make their campuses more diverse and truly representative of America. While we are disappointed in the Supreme Court decision, we hope that colleges will still remain committed to promoting equity on their campuses and use other methods to ensure that people from all racial backgrounds have a chance at higher education.”
2. Undergraduate member
   1. Okpe Ogedegbe, New York University
      1. “This news is extremely disheartening. It would be a lie to say that I did not see this coming, given the current climate of our nation and the growing number of people (old and young) who are blinded by their bigotry. I would say it is a little surprising how many people of my generation are uneducated on the topic of affirmative action and are quick to say that after this supreme court ruling, “unqualified blacks” won’t be taking their seats in college admissions anymore. Overall, this tells me how much more work we have to do to educate the coming generation and elect our educated selves to positions of power.”
3. Graduate school members
   1. Juliana Odu, National President, National African Student Association; University of Toledo
      1. “Today’s supreme court ruling on Affirmative Action is a decision that comes with multifaceted ramifications. I hope that in the wake of this ruling, colleges across the country recognize the need to be even more proactive in establishing just and intentional methods to ensure the preservation of racial equality and educational equity within their institutions. I urge students of color; those like myself who are currently actively applying to colleges as well as those who are still a few years away from application, to remain undeterred in their hard work and pursuit of quality education.”
   2. Tull Osman, Maryville University
      1. “The accountability systems that institutions have established as part of affirmative action can’t disappear overnight, and I’m really interested to see how schools will reflect this ruling in their decision-making. I really think that some of the impact of this decision is something we’d only see in future years’ collegiate statistics.”
   3. Okole Ngalla, Ohio State University
      1. “This court’s decision echoes the incorrect sentiment that affirmative action disenfranchises white students in order to provide an equitable path for students of color, and the legitimization of this ideology sets a dangerous precedent for future admissions of minority students. To justify this ruling by saying it will restore “colorblind meritocracy” is a blatant disregard of the effects of systemic racism and implies that we are living in a fair and equal nation. Additionally, this decision only took into account admissions preferences based on race. Countless wealthy white students are admitted to schools based on legacies and donations yet they are not seen as affirmative action recipients. This proves that the court is not interested in equality, but maintaining white elite dominance in higher education.”