Opinion | What Has Changed After the End of Affirmative Action

Yuan Media's Op-ed

By Editorial Board

Every year, at the end of June, media outlets nationwide focus on the Supreme Court. As it approaches the end of the term, the Supreme Court announces rulings on critical cases. While there are several controversial rulings again, what I want to discuss with you today is not about any of this year's rulings. Instead, I'd like to remind you of a significant decision from last year: the end of Affirmative Action.

For any Asian family with children, Affirmative Action has been a constant threat looming overhead. Initially intended to foster educational equality, over half a century of implementation has resulted in many Asian American students being denied equal opportunities to gain admission to their desired colleges.

When many Asian Americans first immigrated to the U.S., they arrived with nothing. Their pathway to a better life and achieving the American dream depended solely on their dedication to academic excellence. Given their backgrounds, they sincerely hope that the next generation can follow the path they paved: pursuing a prestigious education and establishing deep roots in the U.S. based on academic achievements. However, some prestigious colleges use Affirmative Action to limit the admission rate for Asian American students, judging them by their skin color rather than their academic performance. This has deeply frustrated the Asian American community.

Asian Americans have long been seen as a quiet community. However, we broke the silence on this issue. We organized, spoke up, formed alliances, and sought legal support. To be honest, we Asians are not typically known for these actions. But for the sake of our children and their education, we were more than willing to try. The outcome was positive. Our voices reached the Supreme Court and helped bring an end to Affirmative Action, which had been in place for more than 50 years.

Over the past year since Affirmative Action was overturned, what has actually changed in college admissions?

Nothing seems to have changed yet.

The criteria for college admissions have never been transparent or subjected to public scrutiny. We won't have enrollment data until later in the fall. However, according to applicant data released by Common App last month, even after the end of Affirmative Action, the demographic profile of applicants to selective institutions, the number of applicants, their application destinations and their strategies for application essays all appear similar to previous year.

Then what truly has changed?

Asian Americans' awareness of protecting our interests has changed. We are no longer silent. After the battle over Affirmative Action, many Asian Americans have become more vocal. We have come to appreciate our voices and opinions and understand that civic engagement can prompt policy changes. For the Asian American community, this change is much more profound than the limited percentage differences in Ivy League admission rates.

Asian Americans’ involvement in the Affirmative Action dispute was not only a civic education lesson within our community but also an opportunity to inform the broader public about our most crucial concerns and showcase our collective power when united. Some may argue that Asian Americans were used by certain conservative groups to further their agenda. Probably. However, it's also a positive development when a group is considered significant enough to be utilized. This is better than being overlooked and ignored. Moreover, the unfair experiences of Asian students in college admissions are true and real, and they should never have occurred.

If you experience unfair treatment, you should speak out. If you're dissatisfied, make your voice heard. It's okay if others have different opinions; we can debate. But Asian Americans are no longer staying silent. Recently, many Asian American organizations celebrated the one-year anniversary of the end of Affirmative Action, hoping that Asian American students now have a fair chance to get into their dream colleges. However, from our perspective, what's truly worth celebrating is the awakening of civic awareness among Asian Americans.