Dudley addresses SCOTUS affirmative action ruling

Dudley addresses SCOTUS affirmative action ruling
W&L president says the university will comply while continuing to build a diverse student body

(People protest outside of the Supreme Court, June 29, 2023; Source: CNN)

President William Dudley published a statement addressing the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions V. Harvard. He said that Washington and Lee University will adjust admission policies to comply with the ruling and will continue building a more diverse community.

“Striving to fulfill our mission to the very best of our ability, we will continue working to attract and support the success of an increasingly diverse community at W&L,” Dudley said. “Diversity of life experiences and perspectives makes us a better university, and we will continue using all legally permissible means to attract and support an increasingly diverse campus community in the pursuit of educational excellence.”

Dudley also discussed how the opinion of Justice Lewis Powell (’29U, ’31L) in The University of California Regents vs. Bakke (1978) laid the groundwork for the affirmative action policies formerly used by W&L and other institutions. Dudley went on to note that Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg, writing for Gutter v. Bollinger (2003), both thought affirmative action could be reevaluated in a future case.

W&L’s admissions policies for the previous academic year are described in the 2022-2023 University Catalog.

The catalog says that “the Committee on Admissions considers each candidate’s secondary school record, course selection, standardized test scores, and record of extracurricular involvement. Recommendation letters from secondary school officials, teachers and other sources addressing the applicant’s character, intellectual curiosity, seriousness of purpose, and range of interests also play a significant role in the committee’s decisions. Students’ demonstrated interest in the University may also be taken into consideration.”

The Spectator did not find “race” mentioned in admission policies published online.

According to university enrollment statistics, 28% of the student body was non-white during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Another statement was released by the Student Association for Black Unity (SABU). In an Instagram post, SABU’s executive board said that “we are deeply saddened by the recent Supreme Court decision overturning affirmative action policies.”

“[T]his ruling is a setback for our collective efforts towards social justice and equality,” they said.

The Generals’ Redoubt (TGR), meanwhile, commended The Court’s decision.

“A window of opportunity exists to return to what has made Washington and Lee unique: a place where students could obtain an exceptional liberal arts education in an atmosphere of respect and trust, where individual merit and accomplishment were valued and rewarded,” said TGR President Stephen Robinson, '72U, '75L.

“President Dudley’s reaction,” Robinson continued, “is an unfortunate reaffirmation of his philosophy that has been rejected by The Court and many alumni. It fails to confront the reality that his leadership has grievously damaged our beloved University, its reputation and its future.”