Continuing to embrace diversity is integral

On Oct. 10, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments about the future of affirmative action in the admissions process of the nation’s public universities. If the court rules in favor of the petitioner, it will no longer be legal for public and private universities to use the various personal characteristics of applicants — including race, religion, gender and sexual orientation — as factors in the admissions process.

Regardless of the final ruling, this page urges the Hopkins Admissions Office to continue to use a holistic evaluation process and to continue to take into account the personal backgrounds of their applicants.

Affirmative action in admissions policies is not just about providing opportunities to underrepresented demographics and those less fortunate, although this is a just and noble cause. The facts do show that many applicants to universities have faced hardships in their lives because of their personal backgrounds and their family histories. These people deserve a fair shake in the admissions process.

But affirmative action is about much more than simply leveling the playing field for a disadvantaged individual. Affirmative action in admissions is also a practical benefit to the University as a whole. By factoring in personal and ethinic considerations, the admissions office has the opportunity to select the applicants who will bring the most to the University. A diverse student body is not simply racially or ethnically diverse. It is one in which people from all walks of life, and have learned from all types of life experiences, can come together and forge a more vibrant and productive community. A homogenous student body is inevitably one that is stuck in the past. A diverse student body, on the other hand, creates an atmosphere where there is a variety of opinions and discourse.

Diversity in a student body also enhances its productivity. Students admitted to universities after admissions officers take into account their personal stories often possess the strongest drive and determination to succeed. Those who faced tremendous struggles and setbacks in their lives, but choose to apply to a university anyway — in search of better futures and equality— will not sit down and take for granted the opportunities afforded them. These are students who have faced adversity, but have persevered. Their years of struggle have built in them the character, commitment and determination that any university desires.

Even if the Supreme Court decides to forbid affirmative action, admissions officers need not and most likely will not abide by their rules. Demanding that admissions officers not take into account the full story behind one of its applicants — limiting them to looking only at the hard statistics of a GPA or an SAT score — is easier said than done. Admissions officers have a rightful obligation to select the best and brightest student bodies for their respective universities. A panel of judges won’t take this right away from them.