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ASA Applauds Supreme Court’s Ruling to Uphold Affirmative Action Program at University of Texas
Newswise — WASHINGTON, DC, June 23, 2016 — The American Sociological Association (ASA) applauds the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling today in the affirmative action case Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin. The judgement allows the university to continue using race as a factor in admissions decisions.
“This ruling is an important victory for diversity in higher education,” said ASA Executive Officer Sally T. Hillsman. “Scientific research shows that having a diverse student body leads to a number of educational benefits, including a decline in prejudice, improvements in students’ cognitive skills and self-confidence, and better classroom environments.”
In October 2015, the ASA and eight other science organizations joined the American Educational Research Association in filing an amicus curie brief with the Supreme Court in the Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin case, urging the court to consider the scientific evidence during its deliberations.
“It is the responsibility of the ASA and our sister organizations to ensure that the courts have the necessary social science research on hand to inform their decisions,” Hillsman said. “This is not a responsibility we take lightly.”
Founded in 1905, the ASA has more than 12,000 members and a long history of presenting the consensus research findings of sociologists to American courts for their use in evaluating evidence and legal issues.
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About the American Sociological Association The American Sociological Association (www.asanet.org), founded in 1905, is a non-profit membership association dedicated to serving sociologists in their work, advancing sociology as a science and profession, and promoting the contributions to and use of sociology by society.
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