A legal scholar at Western Kentucky University says Thursday's Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action is good for the country’s college classrooms.
The high court upheld the affirmative action program at the University of Texas.
WKU History Professor Patricia Minter says having a diverse student body creates a better learning environment for everyone.
“As much as we empathize with the struggles of others, we sometimes need to let groups and people speak for themselves about their own lived experience.”
Opponents of affirmative action programs have argued that factors like race, ethnicity, and gender shouldn’t factor into university admissions policies.
Minter says Thursday’s high court ruling isn’t necessarily the last Supreme Court decision regarding affirmative action. She says the country’s racial and ethnic makeup is rapidly changing, and those factors could lead to future court challenges.
You can hear Minter’s conversation with WKU Public Radio by clicking on the “Listen” button above.
