• A lawsuit claims the University of California's admissions process discriminates against Asian American and White students.
• Filed by Students Against Racial Discrimination, the case argues race is illicitly considered despite a 1996 law.
• The suit emerges after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling against affirmative action and at a time of heightened legal scrutiny.

A federal lawsuit was filed against the University of California (UC) system, alleging that it unlawfully favors Black and Latino students over Asian American and White applicants in its admissions process. The complaint by India Times brings into question the university's adherence to the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Proposition 209, enacted in 1996, which prohibits the use of race in public education admissions.

The lawsuit, filed by a group called Students Against Racial Discrimination, asserts that the UC admissions framework continues to provide “discriminatory preferences” that violate state law and lead to the acceptance of less qualified candidates at the expense of more academically qualified individuals. As highlighted by Los Angeles Times, the group was formed by legal scholars, including Professor Richard Sander from UCLA, who has long argued against affirmative action policies.

The lawsuit's backdrop includes a recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that dismantled affirmative action in college admissions, prompting institutions nationally to reassess their admissions criteria. According to the Associated Press, similar claims have arisen around the country, leading to increased scrutiny of how race may still play an unacknowledged role in college admissions.

UC officials have firmly defended their admissions practices, categorizing the lawsuit as meritless and stating that any data on an applicant's race is collected solely for statistical analysis, with no influence on admissions decisions. According to The Guardian, UC believes they have adjusted their policies to align with the legal frameworks set by prior rulings and state laws.

The suit specifically criticizes the university’s holistic review process, claiming it veers away from objective criteria towards subjective assessments that unfairly advantage specific demographic groups. The disparity highlighted includes a statistical review showing that while Black applicants' admission rates have dipped less significantly than those for White and Asian American applicants from 2010 to 2023, overall admission rates have been falling.

Experts and university representatives argue that the university’s policies are designed to enhance access and maintain diversity. Critics of the lawsuit, including education specialists, contend that the arguments presented lack evidence and misinterpret UC’s approach to increasing access for disadvantaged students. As articulated by Patricia Gándara, an education expert, “[UC] really doesn’t use race as a criterion anymore...It has multiple metrics that contribute to admissions decisions that reflect a variety of backgrounds.”

The final outcome of this lawsuit could set a pivotal precedent for how public universities in California—and potentially across the country—navigate the intersection of diversity initiatives, meritocracy, and legal obligations in shaping their student bodies. For further information, you can refer to the initial lawsuit details here.