4 Experts Available for Timely Analysis on SCOTUS Affirmative Action Cases
On Monday the Supreme Court will be hearing arguments for two cases that both challenge race-conscious admission policies at universities. For journalists covering these affirmative action cases and looking for expert analysis and commentary their your reporting, the following university-based experts are available.
Park studies racial equity in higher education, with a particular interest in race-conscious admissions policies, as well as Asian American students in higher education. She served as a consulting expert for the President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation) in connection with the matter of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard. Her most recent book Race on Campus: Debunking Myths with Data uses social science data to challenge assumptions around how race works in college admissions and campus life.
Quote: "Race-conscious admissions is a vital tool to allow colleges and universities to understand who a student is, their experiences with educational opportunity, and potential contributions to the campus community. Low-income Asian Americans are among the students who benefit from current policies that consider both race and class in admissions."
Powell's research focuses on constitutional law, rooted in Critical Race Theory. Overarching themes in Powell's writings include the ways in which neutrality reinforces oppression and subjugation in various areas of society. His new book, Post-Racial Constitutionalism and the Roberts Court, will be available for purchase in the near future.
Quote: "In our pluralistic society, diversity matters not only for redressing the present day effects of past discrimination, but as a a clear indication that inclusion matters, substantive equality matters, and America lives up to its yet unfulfilled promise of equal rights under the law."
Overarching themes in Skrentny's writings include how higher education can be better organized and regulated to provide equal opportunities for students and help them to achieve their own and society's goals. Skrentny has published extensively on the history of affirmative action as well as the social dynamics and legal aspects of racial discrimination in the contemporary US.
Warikoo studies racial and ethnic inequality in education. In the book Is Affirmative Action Fair? The Myth of Equity in College Admissions, Warikoo argues that we should rethink college admissions, and walks readers through empirical evidence suggesting the important value of affirmative action. She is also the author of The Diversity Bargain: And Other Dilemmas of Race, Admissions, and Meritocracy at Elite Universities.
"Quote: "Nearly all of us see the admissions process as an individualist, meritocratic competition. This is the wrong way to look at it. College admission is not and should not be an evaluation of the worthiness of individuals. Rather, it should be a way for universities to fulfill their missions, which are most often related to contributing to our shared social world."