The Supreme Court recently made two significant rulings, one striking down affirmative action in college admissions and the other rejecting President Biden's plan to discharge federal student loan debt. The affirmative action decision mandates that colleges and universities seek alternate means to achieve diversity within student bodies, overturning a precedent of 45 years. This landmark 6-3 ruling, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, was criticized by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who argued that the decision "rolls back decades of precedent and momentous progress." The ruling indicated that while students may write about how race has impacted their lives, institutions may not apply a regime that establishes a race-based preference for admissions, a verdict that has prompted institutions to reassess their commitment to diversity. In a separate ruling, the court struck down President Biden's plan to forgive some or all federal student loan debt, arguing that the administration exceeded its authority under a 2003 law. This 6-3 decision means that the HEROES Act does not grant the Secretary of Education the ability to forgive $430 billion of student loan debt. These rulings have deep implications for higher education and financial policies while reflecting the increasing conservatism of the Supreme Court.

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Summary

• Open Society Foundation announces cuts  |  Alliance magazine