California Ban on Affirmative Action in College Admissions Likely to Stay in Place
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Updated Version:
The attempt to reintroduce affirmative action in California was officially unsuccessful on Wednesday, as the "no" vote remained at 56 percent.
Ward Connerly, who spearheaded the original ban in 1996, expressed his views on Twitter, stating that voters have clearly indicated their opposition to the imposition of race-based politics and equity in California. He emphasized that the existing policy framework, which prohibits discrimination and preferential treatment, is satisfactory.
It appears likely that California’s prohibition on considering race and gender in college admissions will remain in effect, as voters leaned towards rejecting a proposition that would have reinstated affirmative action.
Proposition 16 sought to repeal Proposition 209, which was approved by voters in 1996. The latter measure prevented the consideration of race and gender in admissions and contract decisions by government bodies and public institutions in the state, including colleges and universities.
With 72 percent of the precincts reporting, the measure was trailing, with over 56 percent of voters casting their votes against it.
The repeal was added to the ballot by the Legislature during the summer, and it received an endorsement from Governor Gavin Newsom. Many perceived this as an opportunity to improve equity at a time when racial disparities have gained significant attention nationwide.
Earlier this year, the University of California system decided to no longer require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores for admission. Additionally, a state appeals court ruled last week that the system must cease accepting these exams. Supporters of affirmative action hoped that its reinstatement would help address the imbalances in student enrollment by compensating for the lack of information on high school students that is provided by these exams.
A report from the Campaign for College Opportunity in 2019 revealed a 17 percentage point discrepancy in the completion of required courses for admission to the state’s two university systems between Black and white students. Furthermore, 63 percent of Black community college students in the state fail to obtain a degree, certificate, or transfer to a four-year college within six years.
However, the issue of affirmative action has caused divisions among the Asian American community. While many view such policies favorably as a means of enhancing diversity, others argue that they would negatively impact Asian students’ chances of gaining admission to top-tier schools.
Asian students currently make up the largest proportion of the University of California system’s student body, representing 30 percent of the fall enrollment in 2019, compared to 24 percent for white students and 4 percent for Black students.
Opponents of affirmative action contend that college admissions should be based solely on merit and argue that such policies inherently exhibit bias. They claim that the proposition would have enabled California’s public universities to reject students based on race in order to facilitate the admission of students from other racial backgrounds. Tom Campbell, the former dean of UC Berkeley’s business school, expressed these sentiments on the opposition’s website.
Ward Connerly, a former member of the University of California Board of Regents and leading proponent of Proposition 209, maintained that a repeal would further exacerbate "racial divisiveness" throughout the country.
While most voters expressed support for the concept of increased diversity in California’s colleges and universities, they found the proposition confusing as they were being asked to revoke a law that had been in place for nearly 25 years.
Take a look at our extensive coverage of the 46 races that have the potential to reshape America’s schools following the 2020 election and stay updated on state policies and the challenges faced by students during the pandemic by subscribing to Newsletter.
