University of California, Riverside, leaders and scholars have made the following statements in response to the 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the use of race, or affirmative action, in college and university admissions:
Kim A. Wilcox, UCR chancellor:
“We can be certain that diversity is and will remain a critical aspect of fulfilling our obligations and mission. As a California institution committed to academic rigor, we practice inclusive excellence to strengthen our scholarly pursuits and serve the diverse people of our state. This remains a part of our campus identity and will not change.”
Click here for Wilcox’s full statement.
Daryle Williams, professor of history and dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS):
“Color and race matter in outcomes and we will continue to reduce the barriers to provide a world-class education for all. CHASS will continue to be a center of excellence for the study of racialized experiences, identities, and disparities in the United States and across the world.”
Click here for Williams’ full statement.
Dr. Deborah Deas, the Mark and Pam Rubin dean of the School of Medicine:
“Decades of research have shown that achieving racial and ethnic diversity in the physician workforce is critical to making progress in addressing what Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson referred to in her dissenting opinion as 'gulf-sized race-based gaps' that exist with respect to the health, wealth, and well-being of American citizens.”
Click here for Dr. Deas’ full statement.
Joi Spencer, dean of the School of Education
"These recent decisions . . . set a stage for future educational policies, practices and mindsets and send a message that race and racism no longer impact the life-chances and outcomes of individuals and communities. As Californians, who have experienced the ill-effects of a 27-year ban on Affirmative Action, we are profoundly aware of the deleterious impact on educational equity that this ruling will have- specifically on historically minoritized communities of color. Such diminishment of equity impacts us all. As King wrote, 'we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality.' As a School of Education, we are driven by reflective research, community knowledge and a goal of enacting greater educational equity."
Click here for Spencer’s full statement.
Uma M. Jayakumar, associate professor, School of Education
“At this pivotal moment we re-commit to equity, to anti-racism and to the belief that quality education for all people is liberatory. We urge educators everywhere to take note of these current rulings, to educate themselves on potential impacts, and to learn about the educational experiences and opportunities of communities of color.”
Click here for Jayakumar’s op-ed piece in The Atlantic.
