Published on December 6, 2023, 12:50 am

On Tuesday, Congressional Republicans introduced proposed legislation that would pioneer the creation of a new entity entrusted with the enforcement of an existing ban on affirmative action. This move could lead to federal funding being withdrawn from universities found to be complicit in racial discrimination.

Named the College Admissions Accountability Act, this legislation has been brought forward by Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN). Its primary objective is to establish a sole inspector general’s office within the Department of Education. The purpose? To enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling on Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard case, a landmark decision which asserts that incorporating race in admission processes violates provisions set out in the 14th Amendment.

Backdrop: Various universities have hinted at non-compliance with this Supreme Court ruling since its inception. In response, several American colleges and universities made announcements or put forth new policies conflicting with both—the letter and spirit of—this law. This predicament underscores why entities providing higher education—including their admission departments—must abide by USA’s laws as interpreted by judicial bodies.

Initially, Columbia Law School reacted by requiring candidates to submit videos as part of their application, following implications from the Supreme Court ruling. They reversed course only after critics suggested that it appeared to contravene Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

In parallel, other academic institutions reshaped their essay prompts to ask about applicants’ “cultural background,” “lived experience,” along with their views on diversity and inclusion concepts—a step openly admitted as a direct response to affirmative action prohibition by some universities like Babson College and University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Every student in America deserves equal protection under our constitution regardless of their personal history,” argued Vance when discussing his proposed bill, noting how it stipulates mechanisms vital for enforcing adherence to court decisions while maintaining checks on establishments higher learning for potential racial prejudice breaches.

The legislation seeks not just establishing an Office of the Special Inspector General for Unlawful Discrimination in Higher Education, but also threatens to cut off federal financial support from educational institutions found violating the Supreme Court’s ruling via racial discrimination. Notably, such penalties would extend to cover potential biases identified within “financial aid determinations” and “academic programs.”

The office proposed by this bill will function separately from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights—introducing a fresh avenue for filing discriminatory claims for applicants and staff members.

Conservative activist Chris Rufo—who initiated the fight against Critical Race Theory and now finds his place on New College of Florida’s Board of Trustees Team—remarked how universities have enjoyed unabated power from federal authorities “to discriminate against white and Asian students”. He supports Senator Vance’s proposal, confirming it as an effective tool to curb these inclinations.

In an era where trusted news with a Christian worldview holds undeniable value—and real news becomes harder to differentiate—one thing is clear: This developing story mirrors active efforts toward a paradigm shift on issues concerning racial integration in academic entities offering higher education. At the same time, it reveals concerted action—that could be deemed counter-intuitive by some—to enforce legal provisions ensuring impartiality in admission procedures.