AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT: CAP Experts on Supreme Court’s Oral Arguments in Fisher v. University of Texas

Washington, D.C. — Today the U.S. Supreme Court begins hearing oral arguments today in Fisher v. University of Texas, a case that will impact a generation of young people of color seeking higher education. An adverse ruling by the justices—one declaring race-conscious admission policies unconstitutional—could potentially undermine efforts by colleges and universities to expand the opportunity of higher education to underrepresented communities.

While much of the conversation surrounding this highly charged affirmative action case is on its outcome being a zero-sum game, the true focus of this case should be about what needs to happen in order to expand opportunity and ensure our institutions of higher education reflect the diversity of our citizenry. At the end of the day, access to education is not just about education—which is an important and worthy goal—but it’s also about economic opportunity.

The following experts are available to comment:

• Vanessa Cárdenas, Director, Progress 2050
• Daniella Gibbs Léger, Vice President of American Values & New Communities
• Julie Ajinkya, Policy Analyst, Progress 2050
• Sam Fulwood III, Senior Fellow
• Andrew Blotky, Director, Legal Progress
• Eduardo Garcia, Advocacy Manager, Campus Progress

Resources:

• High Court Ruling on Affirmative Action Will Determine Our Futures by Vanessa Cárdenas
• Asian Americans Benefit from Diversity in Higher Education by Julie Ajinkya
• 10 Reasons Why We Need Diversity on College Campuses by Sophia Kerby
• Race and Beyond: Coming Together to Help Black Boys and Men by Sam Fulwood III
• What’s At Stake: Fisher v. University of Texas by Jen Hicks

To contact experts, please call Laura Pereyra at 202.741.6258 or via email at lpereyra@americanprogress.org.

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