Panel Reflects on the Future of Race in Admissions

Noor Rahman ’25 Managing Arts & Living Editor

Four months after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases that threaten the constitutional status of affirmative action, the college hosted a panel discussion titled “The Future of Affirmative Action: Race-Conscious Admissions and the Supreme Court” on Thursday, March 2.

The conversation included Ryan Park ’05 — who is the solicitor general of North Carolina and argued on behalf of the University of North Carolina’s admissions policy in one of the cases before the Supreme Court — and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Matthew McGann. The discussion was moderated by Pawan Dhingra, associate dean of the faculty, associate provost, and professor of American studies.

(Originally, Paul Smith ’76, P’09 was to be featured on the panel instead of McGann, but he was unable to attend at the last minute. A professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, Smith has argued 21 cases in front of the Supreme Court.)

Perhaps due to the absence of a second lawyer on the panel or perhaps due to Park’s reluctance “to make this [event] into a law school lecture,” the discussion largely glossed over the specifics of the case or predictions about how the court is likely to rule. Instead, the conversation focused on the value of diversity in higher education, how race is currently used in college admissions, and Amherst’s commitment to maintaining a diverse student body.

Chair of the Board Andrew Nus- sbaum ’85 and President Michael Elliott opened the evening. Their remarks made it clear that the college is firmly in favor of the use of race in college admissions, affirming the commitment expressed in the Aug. 1 amicus brief the college filed in favor of Harvard and UNC. The discussion was thus a strategic conversation about the possibility of an “adverse ruling” as opposed to a neutral exploration of the topic.

Both Nussbaum and Elliott quoted the college’s mission statement in their remarks, emphasizing the phrase “students of exceptional potential from all backgrounds” to highlight diversity as one of Amherst’s central values. Nussbaum’s statement that “whatever it takes, whatever the legal means, we will do it” (referencing the college’s dedication to maintaining a diverse student body) was met with audience applause.

Park and McGann echoed this ideological commitment to affirmative action for the sake of diversity, with Park speaking about the value of diversity in higher education as a whole and McGann focusing on the importance of diversity at the college.

“The work of trying to build communities like this one — it has a purpose,” Park said, “ because all the students here — and all the students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — they become the next generation of leaders.” Park spoke about the value of diversity beyond undergraduate institutions as well, highlighting the example that racially diverse juries tend to reach more accurate decisions than racially homogenous juries.

McGann stressed the importance of race as part of the holistic admissions process at Amherst. “In our individualized holistic review, for students to be able to bring their whole selves to this admission process, not just part of themselves, but their whole selves, benefits everyone in the community. I think it’s crucial for students to be able to proudly talk about all aspects of their identity.” In discussing the prospect of college admissions without the consideration of race, McGann posed the question: “How can we have [an admissions] process that allows students to bring their whole selves except for one thing?”

Part of the argument against race-conscious admissions is that it devalues traditional academic

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