‭ os.

20-1199 & 21-707‬

N
‭ ─────────────────────────────────‬
─
‭In the Supreme Court of the United States‬
_‭ ___________‬
‭STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC,‬
‭Petitioner,‬
‭v.‬
‭PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE,‬
‭Respondent.‬
‭____________‬
‭STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC,‬
‭Petitioner,‬
‭v.‬
‭UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, et al.‬
‭Respondent.‬
‭____________‬
‭ON WRITS OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES‬
‭COURTS OF APPEALS FOR THE FIRST AND FOURTH CIRCUITS‬
‭____________‬
‭BRIEF OF‬‭AMICI CURIAE‬‭PARENTS OF FUTURE COLLEGE‬
‭STUDENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITIONER‬
‭____________‬
J‭ une 6, 2023‬ ‭Counsel for Amici Curiae‬
‭ ─────────────────────────────────‬
─
 ‭i‬

‭TABLE OF CONTENTS‬
‭Page‬
‭INTEREST OF AMICI CURIAE…………………….……..……………..1‬
‭SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT………………………….….……..…………1‬
‭ARGUMENT…………………………………………..…….………………………2‬
‭A.‬ ‭Diversity is necessary for a campus:‬
‭Prejudice‬ ‭and‬ ‭discrimination‬ ‭occur‬ ‭on‬
‭campus and affect academic and holistic‬
‭prosperity…………………………………………………..……….……3‬
‭B.‬ ‭Race‬ ‭is,‬ ‭was,‬ ‭and‬ ‭will‬ ‭be‬ ‭prevalent.‬
‭Admission without holistic consideration is‬
‭a faulty system………………………………………………….………4‬
‭C.‬ ‭Discrimination‬ ‭caused‬ ‭by‬ ‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭is‬‭a‬
‭necessary‬ ‭trade-off‬ ‭to‬ ‭compensate‬ ‭for‬ ‭a‬ ‭history‬ ‭of‬
‭Prejudice and preserve liberalism…………………………..7‬
‭CONCLUSION………………………………………………….….……………..8‬
 ‭1‬

‭THE INTEREST OF‬‭AMICI CURIAE‬

‭The‬ ‭Parents‬ ‭of‬ ‭Future‬ ‭College‬ ‭Students‬ ‭(PFCS)‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬
‭nonprofit‬ ‭organization‬ ‭that‬ ‭advocates‬ ‭for‬ ‭equitable‬ ‭education.‬
‭Composed‬ ‭of‬‭parents‬‭of‬‭students‬‭in‬‭or‬‭aspiring‬‭to‬‭attend‬‭college,‬
‭PFCS‬ ‭works‬ ‭to‬ ‭ensure‬ ‭fair‬ ‭access‬ ‭to‬ ‭higher‬‭education.‬‭By‬‭having‬
‭members‬ ‭from‬ ‭all‬ ‭across‬ ‭America‬ ‭with‬ ‭different‬ ‭socioeconomic‬
‭status,‬ ‭lifestyles,‬ ‭and‬ ‭ethnic,‬ ‭cultural,‬ ‭and‬ ‭racial‬ ‭backgrounds,‬
‭PFCS‬ ‭analyzes‬ ‭the‬ ‭potential‬ ‭impacts‬ ‭of‬ ‭educational‬ ‭systems‬ ‭on‬
‭college‬ ‭students‬ ‭and‬ ‭society‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭whole.‬ ‭PFCS‬ ‭works‬ ‭with‬ ‭other‬
‭social‬ ‭justice‬ ‭groups‬ ‭to‬ ‭raise‬ ‭money,‬ ‭advocate‬ ‭for,‬ ‭and‬ ‭inspire‬
‭social‬ ‭change‬ ‭to‬ ‭ensure‬ ‭equitable‬ ‭education‬ ‭for‬ ‭everyone‬ ‭hoping‬
‭to‬‭pursue‬‭higher‬‭education.‬‭This‬‭case‬‭raises‬‭important‬‭discussions‬
‭regarding‬ ‭the‬ ‭equity‬‭of‬‭admissions‬‭processes‬‭and‬‭potential‬‭racial‬
‭discrimination.‬‭If‬‭SFFA‬‭wins‬‭this‬‭case,‬‭the‬‭concepts‬‭of‬‭affirmative‬
‭action,‬ ‭and‬ ‭holistic‬ ‭admissions‬ ‭is‬ ‭threatened.‬ ‭Ultimately,‬ ‭that‬
‭would‬‭pose‬‭a‬‭threat‬‭to‬‭liberal‬‭democracy‬‭in‬‭the‬‭United‬‭States‬‭and‬
‭equity‬‭of‬‭education.‬‭PFCS,‬‭an‬‭embodiment‬‭of‬‭college‬‭students‬‭and‬
‭families,‬ ‭advocates‬ ‭for‬ ‭a‬ ‭just‬ ‭and‬ ‭equitable‬ ‭application‬ ‭process‬
‭that humanizes its applicants.‬

‭SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT‬
‭Students‬ ‭for‬ ‭Fair‬ ‭Admissions‬ ‭(SFFA)‬ ‭V.‬ ‭Harvard‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭case‬
‭involving‬‭the‬‭question‬‭of‬‭affirmative‬‭action‬‭in‬‭college‬‭admissions,‬
‭specifically‬‭if‬‭Harvard’s‬‭“holistic”‬‭admissions‬‭process‬‭violates‬‭Title‬
‭VI‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Civil‬‭Rights‬‭Act‬‭(1964).‬‭The‬‭guiding‬‭question‬‭being:‬‭“Can‬
‭(and‬ ‭should)‬ ‭institutions‬ ‭of‬ ‭higher‬ ‭education‬ ‭use‬ ‭race‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬
‭consideration in admissions?” The Parents of Future College‬
 ‭2‬

‭Students‬ ‭(PFCS)‬ ‭supports‬ ‭the‬ ‭continuation‬ ‭of‬ ‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬

‭while‬ ‭opposing‬ ‭subjective‬ ‭discrimination.‬ ‭Affirmative‬ ‭action‬
‭should‬ ‭be‬ ‭used‬ ‭to‬ ‭provide‬ ‭equal‬ ‭opportunity‬ ‭for‬ ‭education‬ ‭by‬
‭giving‬ ‭more‬ ‭opportunity‬ ‭to‬ ‭those‬ ‭adversely‬ ‭affected‬ ‭rather‬ ‭than‬
‭taking‬ ‭it‬ ‭away‬ ‭from‬ ‭those‬ ‭who‬ ‭are‬ ‭successful.‬ ‭This‬ ‭brief‬ ‭argues:‬
‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭promotes‬ ‭diversity,‬ ‭equal‬ ‭opportunities,‬‭and‬‭a‬
‭more‬‭inclusive‬‭educational‬‭environment,‬‭race‬‭is‬‭a‬‭vital‬‭component‬
‭of‬ ‭one’s‬ ‭life‬ ‭and‬ ‭must‬ ‭be‬ ‭considered,‬ ‭and‬ ‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬
‭necessary‬ ‭tool‬ ‭for‬ ‭addressing‬ ‭institutional‬ ‭and‬ ‭systemic‬
‭disparities‬ ‭in‬‭higher‬‭education.‬‭PFCS‬‭acknowledges‬‭the‬‭concerns‬
‭raised‬ ‭by‬ ‭SFFA‬ ‭but‬ ‭emphasizes‬ ‭the‬ ‭importance‬ ‭of‬ ‭maintaining‬
‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭means‬ ‭to‬ ‭rectify‬ ‭historical‬ ‭disadvantages‬
‭and‬‭promote‬‭equity.‬‭Affirmative‬‭action‬‭is‬‭a‬‭systemic‬‭trade-off‬‭and‬
‭being‬ ‭race‬ ‭conscious‬ ‭is‬ ‭necessary‬ ‭to‬ ‭ensure‬ ‭the‬ ‭equity‬ ‭of‬
‭education.‬ ‭PFCS‬ ‭considers‬ ‭the‬ ‭perspective‬ ‭of‬ ‭Harvard,‬ ‭Asian‬
‭Americans,‬‭other‬‭racial‬‭groups,‬‭previous‬‭supreme‬‭court‬‭cases,‬‭and‬
‭observed behaviors and philosophies when writing this brief.‬

‭ARGUMENT‬
‭and‬
‭Liberal Democracy and Institutional Legitimacy Analysis‬
‭As‬ ‭engaged‬ ‭citizens‬ ‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭free‬ ‭society,‬ ‭PFCS‬ ‭advocates‬ ‭for‬
‭the‬ ‭support‬ ‭of‬ ‭Harvard’s‬ ‭holistic‬ ‭admissions‬ ‭process‬ ‭and‬
‭upholding‬ ‭the‬ ‭precedent‬‭of‬‭affirmative‬‭action‬‭in‬‭previous‬‭rulings‬
‭such‬ ‭as‬ ‭Grutter‬ ‭v.‬ ‭Bollinger‬‭.‬ ‭This‬ ‭decision‬ ‭is‬ ‭paramount‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬
‭institutions‬ ‭of‬ ‭liberal‬ ‭democracy‬ ‭and‬ ‭will‬ ‭influence‬‭the‬‭equitable‬
‭distribution of an individual's right to an education. The SCOTUS‬
 ‭3‬

‭should‬‭rule‬‭in‬‭favor‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Respondent‬‭because‬ ‭diversity‬‭is‬‭crucial‬
‭to‬‭life‬‭and‬‭education,‬‭race‬‭must‬‭factor‬‭into‬‭admissions‬‭because‬‭it‬
‭is‬ ‭integral‬ ‭to‬ ‭a‬ ‭person's‬ ‭life,‬ ‭and‬ ‭discrimination‬ ‭can‬ ‭be‬ ‭an‬
‭unfortunate byproduct of affirmative action’s success.‬

‭A. Diversity is necessary for a campus:‬

‭Prejudice and discrimination occur on campus and affect academic and‬
‭holistic prosperity.‬

‭Prejudice‬‭and‬‭discrimination‬‭persist‬‭in‬‭society,‬‭and‬‭college‬
‭campuses‬ ‭are‬ ‭not‬ ‭immune‬ ‭to‬ ‭it.‬ ‭Affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭promotes‬
‭diversity‬‭and‬‭equal‬‭representation‬‭which‬‭enriches‬‭the‬‭educational‬
‭experience‬ ‭by‬ ‭exposing‬ ‭students‬ ‭to‬ ‭a‬ ‭variety‬ ‭of‬ ‭backgrounds,‬
‭perspectives,‬ ‭and‬ ‭ideas.‬ ‭It‬ ‭is‬ ‭imperative‬ ‭that‬ ‭a‬ ‭student‬ ‭body‬
‭reflects the multicultural fabric of the United States (US).‬
‭By‬ ‭actively‬ ‭seeking‬ ‭a‬ ‭diverse‬‭student‬‭body,‬‭colleges‬‭create‬
‭an‬ ‭environment‬ ‭where‬ ‭individuals‬ ‭can‬ ‭learn‬ ‭from‬ ‭and‬ ‭engage‬
‭with‬ ‭people‬ ‭from‬ ‭different‬ ‭backgrounds,‬ ‭fostering‬ ‭cultural‬
‭understanding‬ ‭and‬ ‭dismantling‬ ‭stereotypes.‬ ‭College‬ ‭students‬ ‭in‬
‭PFCS‬ ‭shared‬ ‭their‬ ‭personal‬ ‭experiences‬ ‭of‬ ‭diversity‬‭contributing‬
‭to‬ ‭their‬ ‭academic‬ ‭success.‬ ‭At‬ ‭the‬ ‭University‬ ‭of‬ ‭Washington‬
‭students‬ ‭are‬ ‭required‬ ‭to‬ ‭take‬ ‭a‬ ‭“Diversity”‬ ‭course‬ ‭which‬ ‭helps‬
‭understand‬ ‭the‬ ‭nuance‬ ‭of‬ ‭living‬ ‭in‬ ‭“diverse‬ ‭and‬ ‭interconnected‬
‭societies”‬ ‭(UW).‬ ‭Learning‬ ‭about‬ ‭diversity‬ ‭and‬ ‭how‬ ‭different‬
‭cultures perceive or are perceived by disciplines builds empathy‬
 ‭4‬

‭and‬ ‭community‬ ‭while‬ ‭making‬ ‭students‬ ‭better‬ ‭learners‬ ‭and‬

‭experts in their future professions.‬
‭The‬‭pursuit‬‭of‬‭acceptance‬‭and‬‭diversity‬‭reinforces‬‭the‬‭ideas‬
‭of‬ ‭liberal‬‭democracy‬‭and‬‭freedom‬‭for‬‭all‬‭in‬‭America.‬‭In‬‭“The‬‭Rule‬
‭of‬ ‭Law,”‬ ‭from‬ ‭Whigs‬ ‭and‬ ‭Hunters,‬ ‭E.P.‬ ‭Thompson‬ ‭explains‬ ‭how‬
‭the‬ ‭Rule‬ ‭of‬ ‭Law‬ ‭is‬ ‭not‬ ‭a‬ ‭static‬ ‭immutable‬ ‭set‬ ‭of‬ ‭legal‬ ‭principles,‬
‭but‬‭rather‬‭a‬‭fluid‬‭concept‬‭used‬‭and‬‭molded‬‭to‬‭the‬‭political‬‭agenda.‬
‭By‬ ‭ruling‬ ‭in‬ ‭favor‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Respondent‬ ‭and‬ ‭encouraging‬ ‭the‬
‭acceptance‬ ‭and‬ ‭growth‬ ‭of‬ ‭diversity,‬ ‭the‬ ‭courts‬ ‭protect‬ ‭the‬
‭individual‬ ‭and‬ ‭societal‬ ‭rights‬ ‭and‬ ‭freedoms,‬ ‭securing‬ ‭the‬ ‭liberal‬
‭status of America.‬

‭B. Race is, was, and will be prevalent. Admission without holistic‬
‭consideration is a faulty system.‬

‭Race‬‭has‬‭been‬‭and‬‭will‬‭continue‬‭to‬‭be‬‭a‬‭significant‬‭factor‬‭in‬
‭our‬ ‭society.‬ ‭Ignoring‬ ‭race‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭admissions‬ ‭process‬ ‭would‬
‭disregard‬ ‭the‬ ‭lived‬ ‭experiences‬ ‭and‬ ‭challenges‬ ‭faced‬ ‭by‬
‭marginalized‬‭communities.‬‭This‬‭strips‬‭away‬‭the‬‭culture‬‭and‬‭lived‬
‭experience‬ ‭of‬ ‭many‬ ‭students.‬ ‭For‬‭many‬‭of‬‭PFCS’s‬‭members,‬‭race‬
‭is‬ ‭not‬ ‭just‬ ‭their‬ ‭skin‬ ‭color,‬ ‭place‬ ‭of‬ ‭familial‬ ‭origin,‬ ‭genes,‬ ‭or‬
‭superficial‬ ‭characteristics.‬ ‭Race‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭way‬ ‭of‬ ‭life,‬ ‭a‬ ‭lens‬ ‭through‬
‭which people view the world and the world views them.‬
‭Ignoring‬ ‭a‬ ‭critical‬ ‭part‬ ‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭person’s‬ ‭life‬ ‭would‬ ‭lead‬‭to‬‭an‬
‭incomplete‬ ‭understanding‬ ‭and‬ ‭selection‬ ‭of‬ ‭students.‬ ‭Race‬ ‭is‬
‭crucial to the upbringing of the child. Different races have‬
 ‭5‬

‭different‬ ‭cultures,‬ ‭music,‬ ‭values,‬ ‭ways‬ ‭of‬ ‭life,‬ ‭that‬ ‭impact‬ ‭the‬
‭success‬ ‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭student‬ ‭and‬ ‭can‬ ‭be‬ ‭used‬ ‭to‬ ‭understand‬ ‭who‬ ‭an‬
‭applicant‬ ‭is‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭unique‬ ‭attributes‬ ‭they‬ ‭can‬ ‭bring‬ ‭to‬‭a‬‭school‬
‭Harvard,‬‭and‬‭other‬‭universities'‬‭policy‬‭of‬‭a‬‭holistic‬‭approach‬‭takes‬
‭into‬ ‭account‬ ‭factors‬ ‭beyond‬ ‭test‬ ‭scores‬ ‭and‬ ‭grades,‬ ‭such‬ ‭as‬
‭extracurricular‬‭activities,‬‭personal‬‭essays,‬‭and‬‭life‬‭experiences.‬‭By‬
‭siding‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭Respondent,‬ ‭the‬ ‭courts‬ ‭would‬ ‭be‬ ‭supporting‬ ‭the‬
‭usage of holistic admissions process and quality admittance.‬
‭Siding‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭Petitioner‬ ‭would‬ ‭show‬ ‭society‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬
‭courts‬ ‭do‬ ‭not‬ ‭value‬ ‭applicants‬ ‭as‬ ‭people,‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭law‬ ‭does‬ ‭not‬
‭allow‬ ‭universities‬ ‭to‬ ‭view‬ ‭their‬ ‭applicants‬ ‭as‬ ‭humans.‬ ‭PFCS‬
‭advocates‬ ‭for‬ ‭these‬ ‭applicants,‬ ‭these‬ ‭students,‬ ‭are‬ ‭well-rounded‬
‭people‬ ‭that‬ ‭deserve‬ ‭all‬ ‭of‬ ‭their‬ ‭values‬ ‭to‬ ‭be‬ ‭taken‬ ‭into‬
‭consideration.‬ ‭Ignoring‬ ‭their‬ ‭race‬ ‭would‬ ‭perpetuate‬ ‭a‬ ‭flawed‬
‭system‬‭that‬‭fails‬‭to‬‭address‬‭the‬‭historical‬‭and‬‭ongoing‬‭inequalities‬
‭that‬ ‭have‬ ‭affected‬ ‭access‬ ‭to‬ ‭education‬ ‭and‬ ‭opportunities.‬ ‭An‬
‭admissions‬‭process‬‭that‬‭does‬‭not‬‭view‬‭or‬‭consider‬‭its‬‭applicants‬‭as‬
‭people‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭faulty‬ ‭system‬ ‭that‬ ‭would‬ ‭not‬ ‭allow‬ ‭universities‬ ‭to‬
‭further society.‬
‭In‬ ‭“Pragmatic‬ ‭Resistance,‬ ‭Law,‬ ‭and‬ ‭Social‬ ‭Movements‬ ‭in‬
‭Authoritarian‬ ‭States:‬ ‭The‬ ‭Case‬ ‭of‬ ‭Gay‬ ‭Collective‬ ‭Action‬ ‭in‬
‭Singapore,”‬ ‭Chua‬‭highlights‬‭the‬‭importance‬‭of‬‭valuing‬‭all‬‭aspects‬
‭of‬ ‭one’s‬ ‭identity.‬ ‭When‬ ‭people‬ ‭feel‬ ‭like‬‭they‬‭are‬‭being‬‭ignored‬‭or‬
‭discriminated‬ ‭against‬ ‭for‬ ‭who‬ ‭they‬ ‭are,‬ ‭then‬ ‭they‬ ‭push‬ ‭back‬
‭against‬‭the‬‭government‬‭and‬‭those‬‭around‬‭them‬‭to‬‭ensure‬‭justice.‬
‭Some‬‭may‬‭argue‬‭that‬‭SFFA‬‭is‬‭using‬‭that‬‭technique,‬‭but‬‭ultimately,‬
‭ruling in their favor would be ruling in favor or getting rid of‬
 ‭6‬

‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭and‬ ‭ignoring‬ ‭race.‬ ‭By‬ ‭siding‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬

‭Respondent,‬‭affirmative‬‭action‬‭and‬‭holistic‬‭admissions‬‭still‬‭stand‬
‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭legal‬ ‭process‬ ‭and‬ ‭protect‬ ‭an‬ ‭individual's‬ ‭right‬ ‭to‬ ‭education.‬
‭From‬ ‭there,‬ ‭other‬ ‭organizations‬ ‭and‬ ‭universities‬ ‭can‬ ‭strive‬ ‭to‬
‭amend‬ ‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭to‬ ‭ensure‬ ‭that‬ ‭every‬ ‭race‬ ‭is‬ ‭being‬
‭considered equally.‬
‭Part‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭SFFA’s‬ ‭argument‬ ‭is‬ ‭that‬ ‭Harvard’s‬‭policies‬‭are‬
‭specifically‬‭discriminatory‬‭towards‬‭Asian‬‭Americans‬‭because‬‭they‬
‭hold‬‭their‬‭race‬‭to‬‭a‬‭higher‬‭standard.‬‭There‬‭are‬‭a‬‭plethora‬‭of‬‭issues‬
‭concerning‬ ‭this‬ ‭argument.‬ ‭Primarily,‬ ‭if‬ ‭Harvard‬ ‭is‬ ‭being‬
‭discriminatory‬ ‭towards‬ ‭Asian‬ ‭Americans‬ ‭by‬ ‭holding‬ ‭them‬ ‭to‬ ‭a‬
‭higher‬ ‭standard,‬ ‭then‬‭this‬‭case‬‭is‬‭not‬‭about‬‭affirmative‬‭action.‬‭It‬
‭is‬ ‭important‬ ‭to‬ ‭acknowledge‬ ‭that‬ ‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭does‬ ‭not‬
‭guarantee‬ ‭admission‬ ‭solely‬ ‭based‬ ‭on‬ ‭race.‬ ‭It‬ ‭is‬ ‭one‬ ‭of‬ ‭many‬
‭factors‬ ‭considered‬ ‭in‬ ‭a‬ ‭holistic‬ ‭evaluation‬ ‭of‬ ‭an‬ ‭applicant's‬
‭qualifications.‬ ‭This‬ ‭system‬ ‭is‬ ‭meant‬ ‭to‬ ‭give‬ ‭opportunity‬ ‭to‬
‭marginalized‬ ‭groups,‬ ‭not‬ ‭to‬ ‭hold‬ ‭them‬ ‭to‬ ‭a‬ ‭higher‬ ‭standard.‬
‭Additionally,‬‭the‬‭category‬‭of‬‭Asian‬‭Americans‬‭is‬‭a‬‭broad,‬‭outdated‬
‭and‬‭generalizing‬‭term‬‭that‬‭encompasses‬‭a‬‭multitude‬ ‭of‬‭different‬
‭races‬‭and‬‭cultures.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭not‬‭plausible‬‭to‬‭say‬‭that‬‭all‬‭of‬‭the‬‭different‬
‭Asian‬‭communities‬‭are‬‭held‬‭to‬‭a‬‭higher‬‭standard,‬‭they‬‭are‬‭entitled‬
‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭benefits‬ ‭of‬ ‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭due‬ ‭to‬ ‭their‬ ‭historical‬
‭mistreatment‬‭as‬‭well.‬‭Overall,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭important‬‭to‬‭realize‬‭that‬‭many‬
‭are‬‭using‬‭this‬‭case‬‭to‬‭target‬‭and‬‭weaken‬‭affirmative‬‭action‬‭and‬‭set‬
‭minority‬ ‭groups‬ ‭against‬ ‭each‬ ‭other.‬ ‭This‬ ‭conflict‬ ‭erodes‬ ‭the‬
‭foundation‬‭of‬‭the‬‭US‬‭liberal‬‭democracy‬‭and‬‭is‬‭a‬‭threat‬‭to‬‭the‬‭right‬
‭to education.‬
 ‭7‬

‭C. Discrimination caused by affirmative action is a necessary trade-off to‬

‭compensate for a history of prejudice and preserve liberalism.‬

‭PFCS‬‭acknowledges‬‭that‬‭affirmative‬‭action‬‭is‬‭not‬‭a‬‭perfect‬
‭system.‬ ‭It‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭“band-aid”‬ ‭solution‬ ‭that‬ ‭aims‬ ‭to‬ ‭rectify‬ ‭historical‬
‭injustices‬ ‭and‬ ‭promote‬ ‭equal‬ ‭opportunities.‬ ‭There‬ ‭are‬ ‭limited‬
‭spots‬‭on‬‭a‬‭college‬‭campus‬‭and‬‭it‬‭is‬‭impossible‬‭to‬‭attempt‬‭to‬‭give‬‭a‬
‭spot‬ ‭to‬ ‭everyone‬ ‭who‬ ‭deserves‬ ‭one.‬ ‭It‬ ‭is‬ ‭the‬ ‭universities‬ ‭job‬ ‭to‬
‭equitably‬ ‭distribute‬ ‭their‬ ‭spots.‬ ‭The‬ ‭discrimination‬ ‭caused‬ ‭by‬
‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭temporary‬ ‭and‬ ‭necessary‬ ‭trade-off‬ ‭to‬
‭address‬‭the‬‭deep-rooted‬‭inequalities‬‭that‬‭exist‬‭in‬‭our‬‭society.‬‭It‬‭is‬
‭a‬‭means‬‭to‬‭counteract‬‭the‬‭effects‬‭of‬‭systemic‬‭racism‬‭and‬‭promote‬
‭social‬ ‭justice.‬ ‭By‬ ‭providing‬ ‭opportunities‬ ‭to‬ ‭individuals‬ ‭from‬
‭marginalized‬ ‭communities,‬ ‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭opens‬ ‭doors‬ ‭that‬
‭were‬ ‭previously‬ ‭closed‬ ‭and‬ ‭allows‬ ‭for‬ ‭a‬ ‭more‬ ‭equitable‬
‭distribution of educational resources.‬
‭Affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭policies,‬ ‭when‬ ‭implemented‬ ‭correctly,‬
‭strive‬ ‭to‬ ‭create‬ ‭a‬ ‭fair‬ ‭and‬ ‭inclusive‬ ‭admissions‬ ‭process‬ ‭that‬
‭benefits‬ ‭individuals‬‭from‬‭historically‬‭disadvantaged‬‭backgrounds‬
‭without unfairly disadvantaging others.‬
‭Equity‬‭is‬‭more‬‭nuanced‬‭than‬‭only‬‭providing‬‭everyone‬‭with‬
‭the‬ ‭same‬ ‭resources‬ ‭or‬ ‭opportunities.‬ ‭It‬ ‭is‬ ‭crucial‬ ‭that‬ ‭a‬ ‭liberal‬
‭democracy‬ ‭realizes‬ ‭that‬ ‭not‬ ‭everyone‬ ‭needs‬ ‭the‬ ‭same‬
‭opportunities‬ ‭or‬ ‭the‬ ‭same‬‭amount‬‭of‬‭resources‬‭to‬‭be‬‭at‬‭the‬‭same‬
‭level.‬‭Ruling‬‭in‬‭favor‬‭of‬‭affirmative‬‭action,‬‭in‬‭accordance‬‭with‬‭the‬
‭Respondent,‬ ‭will‬ ‭continue‬ ‭to‬ ‭stabilize‬ ‭America‬ ‭and‬ ‭prevent‬
‭democratic backsliding. McCann and colleagues wrote about the‬
 ‭8‬

‭injustice‬‭of‬‭the‬‭law‬‭and‬‭how‬‭a‬‭government‬‭that‬‭is‬‭democratic‬‭can‬
‭be‬ ‭illiberal‬ ‭and‬ ‭an‬ ‭authoritarian‬ ‭government‬ ‭can‬ ‭have‬ ‭liberal‬
‭components.‬ ‭The‬ ‭courts‬ ‭help‬ ‭keep‬ ‭the‬ ‭balance‬ ‭of‬ ‭strength‬ ‭and‬
‭freedom.‬‭McCann‬‭and‬‭colleagues‬‭also‬‭recognize‬‭that‬‭the‬‭law‬‭is‬‭not‬
‭inherently‬ ‭equitable,‬ ‭it‬ ‭does‬ ‭not‬ ‭affect‬ ‭or‬ ‭apply‬ ‭to‬ ‭every‬ ‭group‬
‭equally.‬ ‭Several‬ ‭marginalized‬ ‭communities‬ ‭have‬‭faced‬‭economic,‬
‭social,‬ ‭political,‬ ‭and‬ ‭physical‬ ‭discrimination‬ ‭that‬ ‭makes‬ ‭it‬ ‭more‬
‭difficult‬‭to‬‭set‬‭up‬‭for‬‭success‬‭in‬‭higher‬‭education.‬‭If‬‭one‬‭group‬‭has‬
‭access‬‭to‬‭money,‬‭power,‬‭and‬‭connections‬‭their‬‭whole‬‭life,‬‭they‬‭will‬
‭have‬‭a‬‭better‬‭chance‬‭at‬‭succeeding‬‭and‬‭getting‬‭into‬‭an‬‭institute‬‭of‬
‭higher‬ ‭education‬ ‭than‬ ‭someone‬ ‭without.‬ ‭PFCS‬ ‭realizes‬ ‭that‬ ‭it‬‭is‬
‭necessary‬ ‭to‬ ‭use‬ ‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭to‬ ‭attempt‬ ‭to‬ ‭balance‬ ‭these‬
‭tipped‬‭scales,‬‭even‬‭if‬‭that‬‭is‬‭at‬‭the‬‭expense‬‭of‬‭others.‬‭No‬‭decision‬
‭is completely ethical or perfect, it is a balancing of scales.‬

‭CONCLUSION‬
‭Although‬‭affirmative‬‭action‬‭considers‬‭admission‬‭based‬‭on‬
‭race,‬ ‭the‬ ‭potential‬ ‭for‬ ‭discrimination‬ ‭is‬ ‭an‬ ‭unfortunate,‬ ‭yet‬
‭unavoidable‬ ‭byproduct,‬ ‭affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭necessary,‬
‭temporary‬ ‭solution‬ ‭for‬ ‭an‬ ‭institutional‬ ‭and‬ ‭systemic‬‭problem.‬‭It‬
‭promotes‬ ‭diversity,‬ ‭addresses‬ ‭prejudice‬ ‭and‬ ‭discrimination‬ ‭on‬
‭campus,‬‭acknowledges‬‭the‬‭ongoing‬‭relevance‬‭of‬‭race,‬‭and‬‭seeks‬‭to‬
‭compensate‬ ‭for‬ ‭historical‬ ‭inequalities‬ ‭and‬ ‭uphold‬ ‭liberalism.‬ ‭By‬
‭ruling‬ ‭in‬ ‭favor‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Respondent‬ ‭and‬ ‭supporting‬ ‭holistic‬
‭admissions‬ ‭that‬ ‭considers‬ ‭race‬ ‭as‬ ‭one‬ ‭factor‬ ‭among‬ ‭many,‬
‭colleges‬ ‭can‬ ‭create‬ ‭a‬ ‭more‬ ‭inclusive‬ ‭and‬ ‭vibrant‬ ‭educational‬
‭environment that prepares students to thrive in a diverse society.‬
 ‭9‬

‭Affirmative‬ ‭action‬ ‭is‬ ‭not‬ ‭perfect,‬ ‭but‬ ‭it‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭crucial‬ ‭step‬ ‭toward‬
‭creating a more just and equitable society.‬
‭By‬ ‭considering‬ ‭race‬ ‭as‬ ‭one‬ ‭factor‬ ‭among‬ ‭many‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬
‭admissions‬‭process,‬‭affirmative‬‭action‬‭ensures‬‭that‬‭students‬‭from‬
‭historically‬ ‭marginalized‬ ‭groups‬ ‭have‬ ‭the‬ ‭opportunity‬ ‭to‬ ‭access‬
‭higher‬ ‭education.‬ ‭It‬ ‭acknowledges‬ ‭the‬ ‭systemic‬ ‭barriers‬ ‭and‬
‭disadvantages‬‭faced‬‭by‬‭certain‬‭racial‬‭and‬‭ethnic‬‭groups,‬‭including‬
‭limited‬ ‭access‬ ‭to‬ ‭quality‬ ‭education‬ ‭and‬ ‭economic‬ ‭disparities.‬
‭Without‬ ‭this‬ ‭consideration,‬ ‭universities‬ ‭are‬ ‭not‬ ‭admitting‬
‭students‬‭as‬‭people,‬‭but‬‭statistics.‬‭PFCS‬‭urges‬‭the‬‭courts‬‭to‬‭rule‬‭in‬
‭favor‬ ‭of‬ ‭justice‬ ‭and‬ ‭progression‬ ‭towards‬ ‭equity‬ ‭by‬ ‭supporting‬
‭those‬ ‭who‬ ‭would‬ ‭be‬ ‭completely‬ ‭powerless‬ ‭without‬ ‭affirmative‬
‭action.‬

‭Respectfully Submitted by Aiden Abadilla on behalf of Parents of‬

‭Future College Students (PFCS)‬

‭-‬ ‭Aiden Abadilla‬

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