Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger on today's Supreme Court argument in Fisher v. University of Texas

Nothing the Justices heard today would justify an interpretation of the Constitution that leads to fresh burdens on universities seeking the educational benefits of a racially diverse student body. More significantly, while the arguments over this case may involve the intricacies of a single university's unique admissions process, I hope the Court will recognize that a discussion of affirmative action cannot be separated from the realities of race in America, past and present, and the critical role that our colleges and universities play in building a truly integrated society.

Related:

• Reversing Affirmative Action Would Send Us Backwards on Race, Time, Dec 7, 2015
• Affirmative Action Returns to the Supreme Court, The Takeaway, Dec 8, 2015