Former UNC System and Davidson College President Tom Ross – also a former NC Superior Court judge – shared the following thoughts on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on race-conscious admissions at UNC-Chapel Hill.

In the majority opinion striking down race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard and UNC-Chapel Hill, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. seemed to draw a distinction between judging an individual student and viewing the student as part of a class.

“Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration or otherwise,” Roberts wrote.

But Roberts also warned universities not to use applicants’ essays as an end-around to racial selection.

“Universities may not simply establish through the application essays or other means the regime we hold unlawful today,” he wrote. “What cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly.”

Ross responded:

“The affirmative action decision is very disappointing and, in my view, fails to recognize the impact of generations of racial discrimination on equal educational opportunities for many Americans.

“I believe and hope our institutions of higher education will continue efforts to ensure that a quality higher education is available to everyone who has the preparation, desire, and commitment needed to succeed and that our colleges and universities will carefully assess the impact of historical racial discrimination on individual minority applicants.

“Certainly, as Chief Justice Roberts indicated, the assessment of the application of a student from a historically underrepresented race can and, in my view, must be carefully assessed considering the student’s background, experiences, and previous opportunities compared to those of other applicants. Our nation is racially diverse, our communities and workplaces are racially diverse, and our students will be better prepared for the future if they live and learn in a racially diverse educational community.

“The Supreme Court exempted our military academies from its decision. I can only assume they made this decision because they understand the value of diversity to our military. It is no different for our society as a whole.”