The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday (March 27) that it has launched an investigation into three campuses within the Stanford University and University of California systems, focusing on whether the institutions have violated the Supreme Court’s ruling prohibiting the consideration of race in admissions. The 2023 ruling overturned affirmative action policies long implemented by elite American universities, marking a significant turning point in U.S. education history.
In 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Harvard University and the University of North Carolina’s admissions practices that considered race as a factor were unconstitutional. These so-called affirmative action policies aimed at increasing the representation of specific racial groups in admissions were deemed to violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, constituting racial discrimination.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated in a press release that she has instructed the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to investigate and confirm whether these schools are complying with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“President Trump and I are committed to ending illegal discrimination and restoring a merit-based opportunity system nationwide. Every student in America should be evaluated based on their efforts, intelligence, and character, not their skin color,” Bondi expressed.
In addition to Stanford University, the investigation includes the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of California, Irvine.
Bondi pointed out that for decades, many top U.S. universities have prioritized racial quotas in admissions, neglecting a system based on equal opportunity. This practice, under the guise of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), has divided American society and discriminated against applicants from whole groups.
She criticized the Biden administration for promoting such policies without actively safeguarding students’ equal rights.
Acting Associate Attorney General Chad Mizelle stated, “The Department of Justice will put an end to this disgraceful system where race is deemed more important than individual capabilities. We will make every university understand that illegal discriminatory practices in admissions will be investigated and thoroughly eliminated.”
In a statement, Stanford University stated that the university has taken immediate steps to make adjustments following the Supreme Court ruling.
Stanford University spokesperson Dee Mostofi stated, “We will continue to fulfill our obligations under the law. As for the content of today’s investigation, we do not yet have specific details, but we look forward to understanding the Department of Justice’s requests further and responding to their inquiries.”
The University of California system noted that since the passage of Proposition 209 by California voters in 1996, the university has complied with the prohibition of implementing affirmative action measures in admissions.
“At the same time, we remain committed to expanding admission opportunities for all eligible students,” the university said in a statement. “The University of California undergraduate admission application collects students’ racial and ethnic information for statistical purposes only. This information is not provided to admissions reviewers and is not used as a basis for admissions.”