Wednesday, 11/9 Panel: SCOTUS Looks at Race in Higher Education Admissions
On Nov. 9 from noon to 1 p.m., the School of Law will host a panel discussion on affirmative action in higher education, “SCOTUS Weighs Affirmative Action: Should Race Be a Factor in Higher Ed Admissions?” The event will focus on the two cases argued Oct. 31 before the Supreme Court: Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. University of North Carolina.

Students for Fair Admissions maintains that Harvard violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act because Asian Americans are less likely to be admitted than similarly qualified white, Black or Hispanic applicants. The organization argues that the University of North Carolina violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause by considering race in its admissions when it does not need to do so to achieve a diverse student body.

Discussing these cases will be Prof. Greg Dolin, Prof. Mike Higginbotham, Prof. Sheldon Bernard Lyke, and special guest Prof. David Bernstein, from the George Mason University Scalia School of Law. Bernstein is the author of a recently published book, Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America, in which he argues that traditional categories of race are out of date, and that the time has come to consider abolishing official racial classification.

Moderating the panel will be alumna Jill Green, J.D. ’94, associate dean for education and student experience at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, where she also serves as its executive sponsor for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

The discussion will take place in the 12th Floor Reading Room, and pizza and soft drinks will be available. Please register in advance.