JD Vance on Affirmative Action
JD Vance is a staunch opponent of race-based Affirmative Action in college admissions, arguing that it constitutes unjust racial preference and discrimination. Following the Supreme Court's ruling against the practice, Vance has taken active steps to ensure universities comply with the decision by introducing legislation and demanding record preservation from potentially defiant institutions.
Vance views policies like Affirmative Action, often grouped under the broader term DEI, as inherently discriminatory, particularly against white men, and insists that admissions should be based purely on merit and qualifications without considering race or ethnicity. He has framed the ending of these practices as a victory for fairness and for Asian American applicants who he implies were disadvantaged by prior race-conscious policies.
His opposition extends beyond mere rhetoric, as he has sought to hold universities accountable through congressional oversight and proposed new federal laws to penalize institutions that circumvent the Supreme Court's mandate. Vance connects the elimination of race-based preferences to a broader national goal of judging individuals solely on merit and patriotism, rather than demographic factors they cannot control.
Context
JD Vance's current stance on Affirmative Action is highly relevant given his role as Vice President and his broader political platform as a national conservative. His focus on dismantling what he terms the 'higher education cartel' aligns with his stated goal to seize institutions perceived as controlled by the left and implement a 'de-woke-ification program.'
His background, including attending Yale Law School and benefiting from policies that some critics now equate to Affirmative Action or DEI, is often raised in discussions about his current position. This context is significant as critics argue he is now attacking the very systems that aided his entry into elite circles, though Vance frames his own admission as potentially being favored due to geography (Appalachian background), not race.
Actions Taken
- LegislationIntroduced the College Admissions Accountability Act, which would condition federal aid eligibility on universities adhering to the Equal Protection Clause and Title VI prohibitions on racial discrimination.
- Oversight DemandSent letters to 10 colleges, including Oberlin College and Kenyon College, demanding they preserve admissions-related communications due to their expressed 'open hostility' to the Supreme Court's Affirmative Action ruling.
- LegislationAdvocated for the creation of a Special Inspector General for Unlawful Discrimination in Higher Education to investigate non-compliance with the SCOTUS ruling.
Key Quotes
"For decades, America's higher education cartel has discriminated against applicants and students by adhering to racial preferences under the banner of 'equity.' The Supreme Court's landmark decision in [Students for Fair Admissions] v. Harvard rightly called for an end to these unjust practices."
"In the United States of America, you don't have to apologize for being white anymore. And if you're an Asian, you don't have to talk around your skin color when you're applying for college. Because we judge people based on who they are, not on ethnicity and things they can't control."
Criticism
Criticized Vance and other Republicans for working to dismantle DEI and Affirmative Action despite personally benefiting from such policies, suggesting his admission to Yale may have been influenced by these programs.
Argued that Vance's rhetoric against DEI and Affirmative Action is hypocritical because he views these policies as designed to harm white men, overlooking that other groups, including immigrants and people of color, also face exclusion in his vision.
Sources5
J.D. Vance introduces legislation for universities to comply with Supreme Court's Affirmative Action Ruling
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.