TXST Political Parties React to SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision

By Danielle De Lucia

News Reporter

Three weeks ago, the Supreme Court voted to eliminate affirmative action from college applications. Board members of the political organizations at Texas State University commented on what they thought about the verdict, representing the ideologies of the two-party system in the US: Republican and Democrat.

Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. Havard and UNC

Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. University of North Carolina were the cases argued to the Supreme Court on October 31, 2022.

Harvard and UNC are two of the oldest institutions of higher education in America. The schools may have a large number of applicants, yet only a few are admitted.

The cases argued that: “Both Harvard and UNC employ a highly selective admissions process to make their decisions. Admission to each school can depend on a student’s grades, recommendation letters, or extracurricular involvement. It can also depend on their race. The question presented is whether the admissions systems used by Harvard College and UNC are lawful under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.”

What is affirmative action?

Thoughts from TXST College Republicans and Democrats

There was a stark contrast in opinions when comparing both groups, demonstrating the heightened political division that is currently within the nation. Both sides want the best for all, however, the values of what kind of society we want to enforce cause the parties to clash.

“The overall reaction is that we are proud of our Supreme Court Justices for upholding the Constitution,” said Jim Demczak, president of College Republicans at TXST.

Demczak included how he sees this as a turning point for better opportunities and merit in public education is strengthened.

“Now everyone must equally work harder and strive to be someone that makes something of themselves,” said Demczak.

Lastly, he thinks that schools should adapt to help minorities with the removal of affirmative action by enforcing discipline and structure to make every student excel academically.

“They are taking away these guardrails because they think we live in a post-racial America… the decision is just really shameful,” said Jacob Graybill, president of College Democrats at TXST.

Overall, CD felt extremely unhappy with this decision SCOTUS made as well as their other recent rulings. The judgement does not come as a shock with the current SCOTUS having a conservative majority.

Now that affirmative action is gone CD thinks universities will act to help the underrepresented by “looking for loopholes, fighting to challenge, and continuing to be race-conscious,” said Samuel Kulovitz, the secretary of CD at TXST.

Both parties do recognize that diversity will still be considered when applying to higher education, and that even though affirmative action has ended a big change will not happen right away.