Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) sparked controversy following the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action, suggesting the court's claim of "colorblindness" is disingenuous and that legacy admissions should have been addressed. Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, "If SCOTUS was serious about their ludicrous 'colorblindness' claims, they would have abolished legacy admissions, aka affirmative action for the privileged." She further highlighted that a significant portion of Harvard's legacy applicants are white and implied the Supreme Court avoided this issue to protect their own interests.
This commentary drew immediate criticism, with many pointing out that the Supreme Court case did not involve legacy admissions. Critics argued that the Constitution explicitly prohibits racial discrimination, not preferential treatment for alumni relatives, and that these are distinct issues. Some also pointed out that legacy admissions do not explicitly select based on race, while affirmative action does. The discussion also touched upon the proportion of white legacy applicants at Harvard compared to the overall white population in America, with some suggesting the existing legacy system may even disproportionately benefit minorities.
Several commentators, including attorney and conservative commentator Viva Frei, questioned Ocasio-Cortez's understanding of the legal process, noting that the court cannot abolish a practice that hasn't been presented in a case before them. Others highlighted the difference between policy preferences and legal issues. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, while not directly addressing Ocasio-Cortez's comments, suggested that legacy admissions practices warrant review, asserting they "expand privilege, not opportunity." Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), a 2024 presidential candidate, echoed this sentiment, calling for an end to legacy-based admissions in colleges. The debate around legacy admissions and its potential impact on equitable access to education continues, with some lawmakers proposing legislation to address the issue.
