When Brazil implemented affirmative action at its federal universities in 2012, the policy prompted a public debate that largely resembles the debate over affirmative action in the United States. Brazil’s affirmative action policy requires every federal university to reserve at least half of all seats for students from certain groups. Out of that half, about half of […] … learn more→
Tag Archives: affirmative-action

What the US can learn from affirmative action at universities in Brazil

Affirmative action bans make selective colleges less diverse – a national ban will do the same
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in two lawsuits on Oct. 31, 2022, brought by a group that opposes affirmative action in college admissions. Here, Natasha Warikoo, a sociology professor at Tufts University and author of the newly released “Is Affirmative Action Fair?: The Myth of Equity in College Admissions,” shares insights on how […] … learn more→

How do colleges use affirmative action? Even some activists don’t understand
When it comes to the ongoing debate over affirmative action in U.S. college admissions, both opponents and supporters among Asian-Americans have plenty to say. The problem is what people say about race-conscious affirmative action in higher education in the U.S. often doesn’t match how it is actually practiced. I’m a scholar who specializes in Asian-Americans and […] … learn more→

No surprise: A reverse on affirmative action
Fortunately for me, I teach on a campus where diversity is the norm. New York City College of Technology (one of the campuses of the City University of New York) is 33% Hispanic, 30% Black (non-Hispanic), 20% Asian and 11% White (non-Hispanic). The reversal of Obama-era Affirmative Action guidelines, clearly, is not going to affect me […] … learn more→

Affirmative action: if it goes, how can US universities ensure diversity?
Some issues are perfect for debating. There are valid points on each side of the argument, the subject matter is of huge importance and there are passionate advocates in both corners. Affirmative action in university admissions is one of those issues. Should universities be allowed to consider race and ethnicity when allocating places to students? Or is […] … learn more→
Good news for low-income students
Opponents of affirmative action have leveled a new three-pronged attack on affirmative action in higher education that could significantly change admissions at selective universities and colleges for the better. The Project on Fair Representation, which was behind the recent Supreme Court litigation in Fisher v. University of Texas, has launched websites soliciting white and Asian […] … learn more→
\’Fisher\’ is not the point
The U.S. Supreme Court\’s decision in Fisher v. University of Texas, a case in which a white student challenged an affirmative-action admissions policy, does little to resolve the heated debates about when and how race can be a factor in making college admissions decisions. The justices\’ opinion sends the case back to the lower court […] … learn more→