Three reasons why the Supreme Court’s Harvard ruling is groundbreaking

Washington At first glance, the term “affirmative action” seems like a niche topic. But a recent decision by the US Supreme Court has far-reaching consequences. On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that so-called “positive discrimination” was unconstitutional. US President Joe Biden sharply criticized the verdict: “This is not a normal court,” he said in the White House.

On the one hand, the admission procedures at American universities could change fundamentally. Critics say decades of racial diversity efforts on campus may now be reversed. The ruling was also followed closely in the corporate world, as private sector diversity programs are also under pressure.

At the heart of the controversy are informal admission requirements for Hispanic, black, or Asian applicants. Elite universities like Harvard and tens of thousands of other US universities ensure a diverse student body.