Following the Supreme Court’s ruling yesterday declaring the use of race-based affirmative action in college admissions unconstitutional, two of Maine’s higher education institutions have entered the conversation.
[RELATED: Supreme Court Declares Race-Conscious College Admissions Unconstitutional in Harvard Case]
In a statement issued by Bowdoin College, outgoing President Clayton Rose expressed that “it is clear and deeply disappointing that the court overturned more than forty years of precedent that has enhanced diversity in campus communities.”
Rose also argued that the Supreme Court’s “decision undermines the essential work to create an educational environment and experience that prepares students for the diverse worlds of work and of informed political and social engagement,” as well as “the long-term effort to recognize and respond to the structural obstacles for those in our society who have faced the most profound barriers to opportunity.”
Although the college was clear to state that it will “review the court’s opinion with great care and comply with its mandates,” Rose also reiterated that Bowdoin will “never back away from our commitment to build and sustain a truly diverse community where everyone has the opportunity for an equitable experience and an enduring sense of belonging.”
Bates College also commented on the ruling, sending an email to the college community shortly after the decision was released.
Similarly to Bowdoin, President Clayton Spencer and President-elect Gary Jenkins argued that the Supreme Court’s decision “turns back the clock on 45 years of established constitutional principle and significantly restricts the admissions practices used at many colleges and universities, including Bates.”
While being sure to remain clear that they “will comply with the law,” Bates reaffirmed that “the Court’s ruling does not change who we are and what we value.”
“We will take this opportunity to do what we do best: think creatively and experiment with new strategies consistent with the law that will allow us to continue to craft a class with diverse identities, life experiences, interests, and perspectives,” Spencer and Jenkins wrote in the statement.
4 Comments
What’s wrong with having the most qualified?
All the Bowdoin presidents I can recall were anything but diverse.
Does the Board of Trustees look for the best candidate for the job, or follow DEI social mandates?
Actually, they want the one who can connect to the most big money among alumni and other easy touches. I bet when they solicit, they extol College commitment to DEI, CRT, 1619, BLM, etc.
The left is all about diversity until it comes to being white or Asian then they’re find with segregated events that are only inclusive of people of color. So the lefties are the true racists.
Interesting none of these people claims the discrimination against whites enhances education.
The only thing it seems to enhance is diversity.
By the way, how much money have these colleges been getting from the govt for their diversity admissions?