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Demonstrators in Washington: The conservative camp has a clear majority of six of the nine judges on the Supreme Court
Photo: IMAGO/Jack Gruber/IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
In the United States, the practice of many universities taking the skin color into account when selecting applicants for a place on a course could soon be banned.
The US Supreme Court dealt with what is known as “affirmative action” and is intended to ensure that minorities have access to universities.
The conservative camp has a clear majority of six of the nine judges on the Supreme Court.
A verdict in the case is expected in June.
Last June, the court caused a political earthquake with its decision to abolish the country's basic right to abortion, which had been in force for almost 50 years.
Measure introduced in the 1960s
Currently, the student organization Students for Fair Admissions has filed lawsuits against the elite private university Harvard and the state University of North Carolina (UNC).
The plaintiffs argue that applicants with Asian roots are disadvantaged by the selection process, which is particularly aimed at African Americans.
Measures known as Affirmative Action were introduced in the 1960s as part of the US civil rights movement.
Corresponding programs were controversial from the start.
White college applicants went to court, claiming they were victims of "reverse discrimination."
Critics also argue that taking skin color into account cements the division of people into different groups and thus divides society.
In 1978, the Supreme Court ruled that universities should not use fixed quotas based on skin color when selecting applicants.
However, skin color or origin could be used as one of several criteria to ensure diversity in the student body.
The Supreme Court, which has increasingly moved to the right in recent years, was critical of the current hearing.
Conservative Justices John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett repeatedly asked attorneys at Harvard and the University of North Carolina if there would ever be a state where race would no longer be a consideration.
Diversity can be lost
The liberal judges argued that the Supreme Court had held for many decades that diversity at universities was such an important goal that taking race into account when selecting students was justified.
"When students of different skin colors and backgrounds come to the university and live and learn together, they become better colleagues, better citizens and better leaders," said constitutional judge Elena Kagan.
She warned that if Affirmative Action were banned, the number of minority students at top universities could decline.
ani/AFP