Columnist regrets US Supreme Court’s wrong decision – Journal da USP

Professor Glauco Arbix laments the recent ruling by the US Supreme Court that affirmative action with racial items in higher education is unconstitutional. In this case, the arguments of American far-right conservative groups prevailed, which accused Harvard University and the University of North Carolina of discriminating against white and Asian students. According to the columnist, the highest position of the American judiciary is changing the positions of decades and attacking the civil society movements that fight against racial discrimination and the unequal conditions faced by blacks, women and minorities throughout the territory of the United States.

“By restricting the admissions policies of both public and private institutions, the court’s decision will certainly affect the entire American higher education system, which for years has been building a strong movement to include and diversify its students. In the face of Supreme Court restrictions, many universities have already announced that they are willing to find new ways to increase the diversity of their students. Arbix also notes that the Supreme Court’s stance extends beyond the confines of university and academic life, “starting to put pressure on companies to develop programs to increase the diversity of their workforce. […] Negative impacts will be felt on the innovation capacity of companies that need to expand diversity to better design and improve their products and services,” laments the professor.

By turning a blind eye to racial segregation, the Supreme Court raises fears that the new law’s vagueness will limit hiring by companies to qualified and diverse professionals. “This fear is especially born in competitive companies, which look for professionals with race awareness and hire from a select group of top companies. Their concern is even more justified in view of the real possibility of companies being sued based on the same court decision”, Arbix points out. “Like universities, companies need to find new ways to diversify. This is the only way to contribute to a fair society, with opportunities for all, as many Brazilian universities have been doing, and I hope no one follows the sad decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, as USP has done. Other countries, starting with Brazil”.