CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Two Harvard University students on opposing sides of the affirmative action debate agreed that regardless of how the Supreme Court rules on race-based admissions, there’s a path forward to make the application process fairer.
“I think at the end of the day, we both want the most fair admissions policy possible,” said Joseph Hernandez, a second-year student from California who supports affirmative action. “I think we can both agree that income needs to be taken into account as a factor.”
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Alma Conway, a third-year student from Arizona who opposes affirmative action, agreed.
WATCH TWO HARVARD STUDENTS DETAIL ARGUMENTS OVER RACE-BASED ADMISSIONS:
“I think that if the court decides to remove it, it will be a step in the right direction,” Conway said. “Maybe the benefits won’t be seen immediately because there will be protests and students will be upset, but hopefully in the long run it’s looking at race less, which I think should be the goal.”
But Hernandez felt race is “a factor that determines people’s opportunity and as such should be taken into account when we look at admissions.”
In one case, Students for Fair Admissions argued that Harvard discriminated against Asian American students by holding them to higher admissions standards in academics than other racial groups, violating the Civil Rights Act. In the other, the same student group alleged that the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill used race as a primary factor in admissions to favor Black, Hispanic and Native American applicants and accused the college of violating the 14th Amendment.
“If the decision ultimately overturns affirmative action, accounting for socioeconomic status but not race will likely be the best option we’ll have left — but that doesn’t make it a fair admissions system,” Hernandez told Fox News. “We can find common ground in the common goal of fair admissions. Where we disagree is what that looks like.”
Conway said “both sides are well-intentioned.”
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Conway agreed that there are many factors that show who a student is that are worth keeping as considerations in college admissions, including extracurricular activities, leadership roles and prior jobs. The two Harvard students were firm on their affirmative action positions, but agreed there was room for civil discussion on other ways to ensure a fair admissions process.
“If you can agree with someone on a lot of stuff, they’re a friend more than a foe,” Conway said.
