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☆ There's a brewing backlash against DEI in corporate America — and a venture capital fund getting sued for racial bias is now caught in the middle
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Vishal Persaud | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

VC firm Fearless Fund is being sued by the group behind the Supreme Court affirmative action case. The conservative group claims a grant program run by Fearless Fund is racially discriminatory. It also led some companies like Bank of America, Mastercard , PayPal and others to earmark millions of dollars to fund and address the racial funding gap. A small, Atlanta-based, Black women-led venture firm called Fearless Fund was one of them. "Their motive is clear: they want to disrupt the vital work of Fearless Fund and similar institutions and organizations whose primary mission is to provide underrepresented communities with an economic engine to build, sustain and scale their businesses," said Fearless Fund in a press release.

Persons: George Floyd, Edward Blum, Arian Simone, Ayana Parsons, George Floyd's, Eghosa Omoigui, Yasmin Cruz Ferrine, Ferrine, VCs Organizations: Fearless, Morning, Bank of America, Mastercard, PayPal, American Alliance for Equal Rights, Civil, Costco, MasterCard, Street Journal, Netflix, Disney, Warner Bros, Wall Street Journal, Pew Research Center, Microsoft, Walmart, TechCrunch Locations: Minneapolis, Atlanta, America

☆ A backlash is brewing against DEI in corporate America — and a venture-capital fund facing a racial-bias lawsuit is caught in the middle
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Vishal Persaud | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

☆ After Supreme Court victory, anti-affirmative action group turns to military academy exemption
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Rachel Nostrant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Graduation cadets toss their hats into the air at the end of the 2023 graduation ceremony at the United States Military Academy (USMA), at Michie Stadium in West Point, New York, U.S., May 27, 2023. Edward Blum's group launched its new campaign with a website called West Point Not Fair on which it asks: "Were you rejected from West Point? Or the Naval Academy or the Air Force Academy? The group is using the site to collect the names, contact information and stories of people who were rejected by West Point, the Naval Academy or the Air Force Academy or who are planning to apply to those institutions. Dunlap added in an email to Reuters, "The Court rarely supplants its judgment for that of military leaders and especially, the elected branches of government."

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, Edward Blum's, Blum, Thursday's, Charlie Dunlap, Dunlap, Rachel Nostrant, Leslie Adler Organizations: United States Military Academy, REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, Fair, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Reuters, Department of Defense, Harvard University, University of North, Duke University, Air Force, Thomson Locations: West Point , New York, U.S, West, University of North Carolina

The department's Office for Civil Rights opened the probe following a complaint filed earlier this month by three civil rights groups, who argued that Harvard's preference for "legacy" undergraduate applicants overwhelmingly benefits white students, in violation of a federal civil rights law. Those statistics were calculated from Harvard admissions data that became public as a result of the case that the Supreme Court decided in June. The Education Department through a spokesperson confirmed it had an open investigation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars race discrimination for programs receiving federal funds. "Simply put, Harvard is on the wrong side of history," said Oren Sellstrom, the litigation director of Lawyers for Civil Rights, the Boston-based group representing the civil rights groups who prompted the Education Department investigation. Sellstrom spoke at a Tuesday press conference regarding the federal probe, along with representatives for two of the Boston-area civil rights groups represented in the complaint.

Persons: Nicole Rura, Oren Sellstrom, Sellstrom, Zaida Ismatul Oliva, Edward Blum, Julia Harte, Nick Macfie, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S . Department of Education, Harvard, Civil Rights, Harvard College, University of North, Harvard University, Supreme, Education Department, Ivy League, Department, Civil, Wesleyan University, University of Minnesota's, University of Minnesota's Twin Cities, Fair Admissions, NAACP, Mexican American Legal Defense, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, Cambridge , Massachusetts, University of Minnesota's Twin, Boston

☆ Edward Blum, the Man Who Killed Affirmative Action
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( William Mcgurn | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

William McGurn is a member of The Wall Street Journal editorial board and writes the weekly "Main Street" column for the Journal each Tuesday. Previously he served as Chief Speechwriter for President George W. Bush. Mr. McGurn has served as chief editorial writer for The Wall Street Journal in New York. He spent more than a decade overseas -- in Brussels for The Wall Street Journal/Europe and in Hong Kong with both the Asian Wall Street Journal and the Far Eastern Economic Review. Bill is author of a book on Hong Kong ("Perfidious Albion") and a monograph on terrorism ("Terrorist or Freedom Fighter").

Persons: William McGurn, George W, Bush, McGurn, Bill Organizations: Wall Street, The Wall Street, Street Journal, Economic, Washington, National Review, Foreign Relations, Notre Dame, Communications, Boston University Locations: New York, Brussels, Europe, Hong Kong

Edward Blum, the founder of the group that brought Thursday's Supreme Court case, made it clear in a statement that he would be watching schools' reaction closely. But such programs could draw legal challenges claiming that schools are simply using other criteria as a substitute for race. A divided appeals court rejected the parents' claim, but many legal observers say the Supreme Court could choose to take up the case. Some employment lawyers also warned that Thursday's decision, while focused on colleges, nevertheless could encourage more legal challenges to corporate diversity and inclusion programs. But in practice, corporate programs can sometimes give the appearance of granting preferences to particular groups, and the Supreme Court ruling could fuel opposition to them, said Krissy Katzenstein, a partner at Baker McKenzie in New York who represents employers.

Persons: McKenzie, John Roberts, Roberts, Dayna Bowen Matthew, George Washington, Brian Fitzpatrick, Edward Blum, Blum, Evan Caminker, Krissy Katzenstein, Baker McKenzie, Joseph Ax, Dan Wiessner, Tom Hals, Amy Stevens, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Baker, . Constitution, Vanderbilt University, University of Michigan, Companies, Thomson Locations: ., California, Virginia, New York

Reverse discrimination lawsuits are common, but there is little court precedent on the legality of whole diversity programs. The Supreme Court in a 1979 ruling upheld a chemical company's policy that at least half of its trainees for skilled craft positions be Black. By calling out specific admissions policies, such as giving "pluses" to minority students, the court's decision is likely to embolden critics who claim workforce diversity programs similarly give unfair advantages to certain groups. The Pfizer case was brought by Do No Harm, a conservative activist group that has challenged several diversity programs in healthcare. Those broad policies are likely insulated from legal challenges, according to Doug Brayley, a Boston-based partner at law firm Ropes & Gray.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Gray, Thursday’s, John Roberts, Neil Gorsuch, “, ”, Dan Morenoff, George Floyd, Andrea Lucas, Lucas, Donald Trump, Roberts, Edward Blum, Blum, Doug Brayley, ” Brayley, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Harvard University, University of North, REUTERS, American Civil Rights, Opportunity Commission, Republican, Democratic, Pfizer Inc, Pfizer, Conservative, Gray, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, Washington , U.S, Boston, Albany , New York

June 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, effectively prohibiting affirmative action policies long used to raise the number of Black, Hispanic and other underrepresented minority students on campuses. "Harvard and UNC admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause," Roberts wrote, referring to the constitutional provision. Affirmative action had withstood Supreme Court scrutiny for decades, most recently in a 2016 ruling involving a white student, backed by Blum, who sued the University of Texas after being rejected for admission. Jackson did not participate in the Harvard case because of her past affiliation with the university. The ruling did not explicitly say it was overruling landmark precedent upholding affirmative action.

Persons: Constitution's, Edward Blum, Roe, Wade, John Roberts, Roberts, Blum, Donald Trump, Trump, Thursday's, Joe Biden's, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Sotomayor, Peter Hans, Hans, Clarence Thomas, Bollinger, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Harvard University, University of North, Harvard, UNC, Fair, Universities, University of Texas, Republican, America, Liberal, Jackson, Asian, Civil, University of North Carolina, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, U.S, States, Black, America, New York

Those figures are now 20% at Berkeley Law and 15% at Michigan Law. The Association of American Law Schools on July 10 is convening a virtual conference focused on admissions in a post-affirmative action landscape, chaired by Berkeley Law dean Erwin Chemerinsky. Alongside strategies to recruit and admit diverse students, Zearfoss said the changing demographics of the law school applicant pool have helped Michigan Law bolster student diversity—good news for law schools now facing an affirmative action ban. The law school also prioritizes recruiting at events geared toward minority applicants and at college and universities with significant minority enrollment, Zearfoss added. Michigan Law and Berkeley Law both voluntarily withhold information about each applicant's race to ensure they comply with their state laws, admissions officials said.

Persons: Sarah Zearfoss, Erwin Chemerinsky, Edward Blum, ”, Michigan’s Zearfoss, Zearfoss, Chemerinsky, “, ” Chemerinsky, Karen Sloan, Leigh Jones Organizations: U.S, Supreme, University of Michigan Law School, University of California, Berkeley School of Law, Berkeley Law, American Bar Association, Michigan Law's, ABA, Michigan Law, Association of American Law Schools, Berkeley, Fair Admissions, Harvard University, University of North, Asian, Fair, Association of American Medical Colleges, American Dental Association, Law, Thomson Locations: Michigan, California, American, Sarah Zearfoss , Michigan, University of North Carolina, U.S

For just as long, critics of affirmative action have questioned whether race-conscious admissions policies are fair or warranted. The Supreme Court weighed in on Thursday, striking down affirmative action policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. In 2014, he founded Students for Fair Admissions, the group behind several major Supreme Court challenges to affirmative action - including the cases that led to Thursday's decision. Connerly persuaded his fellow regents to ban affirmative action. He concluded that affirmative action as part of an approach that aimed to remedy historic disadvantages and did not favor unqualified applicants over qualified ones could still be used.

Persons: EDWARD BLUM Edward Blum, Blum, LEE BOLLINGER, Lee Bollinger, Society's, Bollinger, WARD CONNERLY, Jim Crow, Pete Wilson, Connerly, CHRISTOPHER EDLEY, Bill Clinton, Christopher Edley Jr, Clinton, Edley, Joseph Ax, Gabriella Borter, Sharon Bernstein, Donna Bryson, Leslie Adler Organizations: Harvard, University of North, Fair, University of Michigan, U.S, Bollinger, Columbia University, Universities, Republican, Regents, University of California, UC, American, JR, UC Berkeley's, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, U.S ., Grutter, Michigan, California, Louisiana, Sacramento

June 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down race-conscious student admissions programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina in a sharp setback to affirmative action policies often used to increase the number of Black, Hispanic and other underrepresented minority groups on campuses. The decision, powered by the court's conservative justices with the liberal justices in dissent, was 6-3 against the University of North Carolina and 6-2 against Harvard. The dispute presented the Supreme Court's conservative majority an opportunity to overturn its prior rulings allowing race-conscious admissions policies. Affirmative action has withstood Supreme Court scrutiny for decades, most recently in a 2016 ruling involving a white student, backed by Blum, who sued the University of Texas after being rejected for admission. The Supreme Court has shifted rightward since 2016 and now includes three justices who dissented in the University of Texas case and three new appointees by former Republican President Donald Trump.

Persons: Edward Blum, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Roe, Wade, John Roberts, Constitution's, Roberts, Blum, Donald Trump, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Harvard University, University of North, Fair, Harvard, Liberal, UNC, Asian, Civil, Republican, University of Texas, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, U.S, America, New York

In the context of higher education, affirmative action typically refers to admissions policies aimed at increasing the number of Black, Hispanic and other minority students on campus. The goal of race-conscious admissions policies is to increase student diversity in order to enhance the educational experience for all students. Schools also employ recruitment programs and scholarship opportunities intended to boost diversity, but the Supreme Court litigation was focused on admissions. The Supreme Court decided two cases brought by Students for Fair Admissions, a group headed by Edward Blum, a conservative legal strategist who has spent years fighting affirmative action. HOW HAS THE SUPREME COURT RULED IN THE PAST?

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Edward Blum, Bakke, Lewis Powell, Powell, Blum, Joseph Ax, Will Dunham, Colleen Jenkins, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: United States, Harvard University, University of North, REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, Colleges, Schools, National Association for College, Fair, Asian, University of California, Civil, University of, University of Texas, University of Michigan, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, Washington , U.S, Arizona , California, Florida , Idaho , Michigan , Nebraska , New Hampshire , Oklahoma, Washington, New York

☆ ‘Students will suffer’: Harvard and UNC students, alumni react to 'disappointing' Supreme Court ruling rejecting affirmative action in admissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that affirmative action policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina that consider a student's race for college admissions are unconstitutional. The court's decision is not surprising but "disappointing" nonetheless, says Julian Taylor, a rising junior and member of the Affirmative Action Coalition at UNC Chapel Hill. The CEO and founder of the sustainability brand Blueland has been vocal about the importance of maintaining affirmative action policies at top colleges. Research has shown that the removal of affirmative action has led to declines in minority admissions at universities. Overturning 40-plus years of affirmative action in colleges

Persons: Edward Blum, Blum, Julian Taylor, Brown, Taylor, John Roberts, Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, Sarah Paiji Yoo, wouldn't, Claudine Gay Organizations: U.S, Supreme, of Harvard College, University of North, Harvard, Fair, UNC, United States, Affirmative, Coalition, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Affirmative, Chapel, ACT, Harvard Business School, CNBC Locations: University of North Carolina, Washington ,, Chapel Hill

PinnedThe Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina were unlawful, curtailing affirmative action at colleges and universities around the nation, a policy that has long been a pillar of higher education. The university responded that its admissions policies fostered educational diversity and were lawful under longstanding Supreme Court precedents. Seven years later, only one member of the majority in the Texas case, Justice Sotomayor, remains on the court. Justice Jackson recused herself from the Harvard case, having served on one of its governing boards. The Texas decision essentially reaffirmed Grutter v. Bollinger, a 2003 decision in which the Supreme Court endorsed holistic admissions programs, saying it was permissible to consider race to achieve educational diversity.

Persons: Edward Blum, Antonin Scalia, Elena Kagan, Justice Anthony M, Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G, Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Sotomayor, Justice Kennedy, Brett M, Kavanaugh, Ginsburg, Amy Coney Barrett, Justice Breyer, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Justice Jackson, Grutter, Bollinger, Sandra Day O’Connor Organizations: Harvard, University of North, Civil, Asian, Fair, University of Texas Locations: University of North Carolina, North Carolina, Austin, Texas

June 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, a practice called affirmative action employed by a majority of selective schools. Harvard was sued in 2014 by anti-affirmative action group Students for Fair Admissions, which accused Harvard of unlawful discrimination against Asian American applicants in its admissions practices. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINAThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a prestigious public research university. Students for Fair Admissions sued UNC in 2014, alleging that the Chapel Hill campus unlawfully discriminated against white and Asian American applicants. STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONSStudents for Fair Admissions is a nonprofit organization founded in 2014 by conservative activist Edward Blum, who has waged a legal war against affirmative action policies.

Persons: Harvard, Edward Blum, EDWARD BLUM, Blum, Abigail Fisher, Gabriella Borter, Will Dunham, Donna Bryson, William Maclean Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Harvard University, University of North, HARVARD UNIVERSITY Harvard University, Ivy League, Harvard, Fair, Asian, Civil, UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAROLINA The University of North, UNC, Fair Admissions, University of Texas, Lawyers, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, Cambridge , Massachusetts, U.S, NORTH CAROLINA The University of North Carolina, Constitution's

admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the equal protection clause,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote for the majority. The court had repeatedly upheld similar admissions programs, most recently in 2016, saying that race could be used as one factor among many in evaluating applicants. The university responded that its admissions policies fostered educational diversity and were lawful under longstanding Supreme Court precedents. Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said that courts must give universities substantial but not total leeway in devising their admissions programs. The Texas decision essentially reaffirmed Grutter v. Bollinger, a 2003 decision in which the Supreme Court endorsed holistic admissions programs, saying it was permissible to consider race to achieve educational diversity.

Persons: “, John G, Roberts, ”, Sonia Sotomayor, Edward Blum, Antonin Scalia, Elena Kagan, Justice Anthony M, Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G, Breyer, Justice Sotomayor, Justice Kennedy, Brett M, Kavanaugh, Ginsburg, Amy Coney Barrett, Justice Breyer, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Justice Jackson, Grutter, Bollinger, Sandra Day O’Connor, Clarence Thomas Organizations: Harvard, University of North, Civil, Asian, Fair, University of Texas Locations: University of North Carolina, North Carolina, Austin, Texas

Here is an explanation of the policies commonly known as affirmative action, their history and the possible consequences of the court's decision. In the context of higher education, affirmative action typically refers to admissions policies aimed at increasing the number of Black, Hispanic and other minority students on campus. Schools also employ recruitment programs and scholarship opportunities intended to boost diversity, but the Supreme Court litigation was focused on admissions. The Supreme Court decided two cases brought by Students for Fair Admissions, a group headed by Edward Blum, a conservative legal strategist who has spent years fighting affirmative action. HOW HAS THE SUPREME COURT RULED IN THE PAST?

Persons: Jonathan Drake, Edward Blum, Bakke, Lewis Powell, Powell, Blum, Joseph Ax, Will Dunham, Colleen Jenkins, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: University of North, REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, Colleges, Schools, National Association for College, Fair, Asian, University of California, Civil, University of, University of Texas, University of Michigan, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill , North Carolina, U.S, Arizona , California, Florida , Idaho , Michigan , Nebraska , New Hampshire , Oklahoma, Washington, New York

Against this backdrop, the court is again poised to decide cases with the potential to reshape key areas of law and impact life for millions of Americans. The court began its term in October and typically finishes by the end of June each year. The Supreme Court already has ruled in two major race-related cases. In the student admissions cases, the challengers - a group founded by anti-affirmative action activist Edward Blum - accused the two schools of discriminating against white and Asian American applicants. The justices also are due to decide the legality of President Joe Biden's plan to cancel $430 billion in student loan debt.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Clarence Thomas, Edward Blum, Joe Biden's, Lorie Smith's, Andrew Chung, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Harvard University, University of North, Republican, Harvard, UNC, Colorado, U.S . Postal Service, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas , Iowa , Kansas , Missouri , Nebraska, South Carolina, Louisiana, U.S, Colorado, North Carolina, New York, Washington

March 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether colleges can continue to consider race as part of their admissions decisions, a practice commonly known as affirmative action. Schools also employ recruitment programs and scholarship opportunities intended to boost diversity, but the Supreme Court litigation is focused on admissions. HOW HAS THE SUPREME COURT RULED IN THE PAST? The court has largely upheld race-conscious admissions for decades, though not without limits. A decision banning affirmative action would force elite colleges to revamp their policies and search for new ways to ensure diversity.

☆ How Asian-led student groups are continuing affirmative action fight at Harvard and UNC
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Sakshi Venkatraman | Sakshi Venkatraman Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Due to the conservative majority on the bench, advocates fear this could signal the end of affirmative action. “That really scares me.”Voter surveys show that 69% of Asian Americans support affirmative action. “Affirmative action actually helps Asian Americans in admissions in higher education,” he said. When contacted for a statement, Students for Affirmative Action creator Edward Blum directed NBC News to a pro-SFFA action rally that had Asian speakers. While things might look bleak for the conservative majority’s eventual ruling on affirmative action, she said she’s witnessing a new generation being ushered into caring about inclusion at a systemic level.

☆ Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Race in College Admissions
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Jess Bravin | Melissa Korn | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The affirmative action suits before the Supreme Court combine questions of race in American society and access to prestigious universities. WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court will hear arguments Monday over whether colleges can consider race in admissions decisions, a practice the justices approved in 1978 and repeatedly reaffirmed but today’s more conservative majority agreed to review. The court has scheduled separate cases beginning at 10 a.m., one against the University of North Carolina, a state flagship, followed by another involving a private Ivy League institution, Harvard College. Both suits were filed by Students for Fair Admissions, a group founded by conservative activist Edward Blum , who has brought several cases to the Supreme Court seeking to end practices that take race into account.

The court confronts this divisive issue four months after its major rulings curtailing abortion rights and widening gun rights. The court's 6-3 conservative majority is expected to be sympathetic toward the challenges to Harvard and UNC. The cases give the court an opportunity to overturn its prior rulings allowing race-conscious admissions policies. Blum's group said UNC discriminates against white and Asian American applicants and Harvard discriminates against Asian American applicants. UNC said there is a difference between a racist policy like segregation that separates people based on race and race-conscious policies that bring students together.

☆ Supreme Court's conservative majority seems open to eliminating affirmative action in university admissions process: 'Why do you have these boxes?'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The Supreme Court heard two high-profile challenges to race-conscious university admissions processes. The court's conservatives appeared open to ending race as a factor in university admissions. Thomas, the second Black person to ever serve on the bench, has long been critical of race-conscious admissions policies. They cannot adopt race-conscious admissions and sit back reflexively and let that play out forever into the future," Prelogar said. "At present, it's not possible to achieve that diversity without race-conscious admissions, including at the nation's service academies."

According to Harvard, around 40% of U.S. colleges and universities consider race in some fashion in admissions. The Supreme Court has been upheld such policies, most recently in a 2016 ruling involving a white woman who sued after the University of Texas rejected her. Ruling in favor of the plaintiffs could require the court to overturn its 2016 ruling and earlier decisions. 'DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION'The lawsuits accused UNC of discriminating against white and Asian American applicants and Harvard of discriminating against Asian American applicants. Circuit Court of Appeals found that Harvard's use of race was "meaningful" and not "impermissibly extensive" because it prevented diversity from plummeting.

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