Race-conscious college admissions are on life support

Plus a Q&A on Biden’s student loan relief [View this email online]( [NPR Education]( November 6, 2022 This week, we recap Supreme Court arguments around affirmative action in admissions. Plus, some of your questions on the federal student loan relief. --------------------------------------------------------------- Happy Sunday, Last week you heard from us about [two cases the Supreme Court was tackling]( around race-conscious college admissions. After Monday's arguments, NPR’s [Nina Totenberg]( reports, all six conservative justices seemed to be leaning toward ending colleges’ ability to consider race as one of many factors in the admissions process. The conservative activist group Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) is behind both cases – one involving Harvard University, and the other the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The suits claim that Harvard and UNC's admissions practices use race in a discriminatory way. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images One key question during the arguments was what a proper consideration of race would look like. Totenberg reports that Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked “whether it would be an improper consideration of race if a Black applicant was admitted partially on the basis of an essay talking about his or her struggle in dealing with racial discrimination.” The lawyer representing SFFA replied that would be an appropriate consideration of race, Totenberg says, “because the act of overcoming discrimination is distinct from an applicant's race itself.” Another key question was how much longer affirmative action policies will be necessary. In a 2003 decision, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote that there should be an end to race-conscious admissions at some point in the future. On Monday, Justice Barrett asked, “How do you know when you're done?” The only argument for affirmative action that seemed to turn the attention of the court’s conservative supermajority came from the solicitor general, representing the federal government, who emphasized the military’s need for a racially diverse officer corps. "It is a critical national security imperative to attain diversity within the officer corps," she said. "And, at present, it's not possible to achieve that diversity without race-conscious admissions, including at the nation's service academies." [You can read a full recap of the arguments here.]( — Anil Oza, NPR Ed Intern [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Now, let’s get into some news … The driver of the big rig one lane over might soon be one of these teenagers. The trucking industry projects it will need to hire over a million drivers over the next decade. One idea that’s gained some tracking: Bring in younger drivers, starting in high school. [Read more here.]( — [Andrea Hsu]( Reporter, NPR Business — [Mary Yang]( Intern, NPR Business You’ve got questions. We have answers about Biden’s student debt relief plan. There’s been some confusion over what loans – and which borrowers – qualify. We answered your questions about how to apply, what happens after you apply, and what to make of the lawsuits trying to stop Biden’s plan from going into effect. [Read more here](. — [Sequoia Carrillo]( Reporter, NPR Ed — [Cory Turner]( Correspondent, NPR Ed And before you go, something to make you smile… A piece of history is up for auction, for the price of $20 to $30 million. Those who want a first printing of the U.S. Constitution won’t have to steal it, like Nicholas Cage in National Treasure, but they will have to cough up a pretty penny. [Read more here](. — [Bill Chappell]( NPR Reporter --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [npred@npr.org](mailto:npred@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! [They can sign up here.]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Politics, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Education emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]