Say Yes to Affirmative Action

Affirmative action is set of procedures designed to “eliminate unlawful discrimination among applicants, remedy the results of such prior discrimination, and prevent such discrimination in the future,” according to Cornell University’s Legal Information Institute. In other words, affirmative action aims to rectify historical wrongs by ensuring equity of opportunity across racial backgrounds. The Supreme Court heard arguments on October 31 regarding the necessity of affirmative action in U.S. college admissions while trying the cases Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard and SFFA v. University of North Carolina. Opponents of affirmative action question the educational benefits of racial diversity and accuse affirmative action of creating “reverse discrimination.” 

From my experience at Deerfield, I can speak to the benefits of affirmative action. The Academy represents 47 countries and 44 percent of its students self-identify as people of color; this diverse gathering of students exposes the community to new ideas, debunks prejudices, and provides a more holistic view of the world. Different life experiences produce different opinions and perceptions of the world, fueling more interesting student-led discussions. 

Advocates of the concept of “reverse discrimination” argue that affirmative action denies some qualified white and Asian candidates by elevating students from underrepresented racial groups. However, affirmative action actually works toward equality of opportunity by correcting systematic biases. Dean of Ethical and Spiritual Life Jan Flaska,  who hosted a series of discussions on affirmative action, said that affirmative action “tries to balance the historical baggage that the United States carries, and also allows universities, colleges, and workplaces to try to make a complete picture.” 

Moreover, universities make this choice in order to balance representation and ability. Even if honoring underrepresented voices requires the rejection of some qualified candidates belonging to a dominant voice, it is more important to a successful community that all voices are heard. Today, cultures interact with each other to form a global community enhanced by the transportation of people and ideas. At a school, when studying different regions and aspects of the world, a diverse student body allows for a more relevant, authentic, and complete learning experience through informative  and pleasantly unexpected interactions. Of course, equally important is a diverse faculty body, matching that of the students, to create representation and a sense of belonging.

Certainly, in an ideal society, affirmative action would not be needed at all to make up for historic inequalities of opportunity and social mobility. However, given that this possibility is unlikely, we must account for race as a part of identity — and a part of the admissions process.