The University of California (UC) system is criticized for its new admissions policy, which some argue discriminates against students based on their parents’ income and education. The controversy arose when UC San Diego (UCSD) decided to prioritize California residents, first-generation college students, and students from low-income families for selective majors.
There is an ongoing debate regarding the fairness and legality of a specific policy, especially in California’s history with affirmative action. This policy has been the subject of two votes in California, one in 1996 and another in 2020, both of which rejected affirmative action in state school admissions and employment. Additionally, the United States Supreme Court has invalidated college affirmative action policies, citing violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Some criticize UCSD’s policy, saying that it creates a point system that relies heavily on the student’s parents, which may disadvantage certain racial groups. This has led to concerns that the policy is a way to achieve a form of affirmative action by balancing the racial makeup of the student body.
Supporters argue that affirmative action levels the playing field for disadvantaged students. However, the policy remains controversial and may be viewed as unfair discrimination.
