WASHINGTON ― Democrats are calling for an end to legacy admissions at universities and colleges, following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn affirmative action. They argue that legacy admissions unfairly benefit wealthy and often white families, while disadvantaging lower-class applicants of color. Surprisingly, a number of Republican lawmakers also support the idea, although they have not yet endorsed federal legislation to ban the practice outright.
Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) expressed concerns about the hypocrisy of legacy admissions at elite universities but believes that the authority to prohibit such practices may not exist. Legacy-based admissions occur when institutions give preference to applicants based on family connections to the school or to donors/faculty. Being a legacy significantly increases one’s chances of acceptance, with Harvard granting legacy applicants admission at over five times the rate of non-legacies.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oreg.) and Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) introduced the Fair College Admissions for Students Act, which would ban legacy admissions for colleges and universities participating in federal student aid programs. The Secretary of Education would have the authority to grant exemptions to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
While the bill has support from Democrats, it lacks Republican co-sponsors. Nevertheless, some Republicans have voiced criticisms of legacy admissions. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) pointed out the irony of elite universities that claim to address disparities while using legacy admissions to cultivate loyalty among students. Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) called for fundamental reform and emphasized the importance of merit-based admissions rather than privileging connections or race.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) agreed that eliminating legacy admissions is a reasonable policy to consider and suggested that there are alternative ways to promote diversity in university admissions without racial discrimination. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the only Black Republican in the Senate and a potential 2024 GOP presidential candidate, supports eliminating legacy programs and urged Harvard University to do the same.
One argument against eliminating legacy admissions is that they can benefit minorities with alumni parents or grandparents. A Harvard graduate and member of the Black community at Harvard acknowledged that many students, including those from wealthy Black families, wouldn’t want to see legacy admissions removed. He believes that many legacy admissions are still qualified to attend Harvard based on merit.
However, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) argued that data shows legacy admissions overwhelmingly disadvantage people of color. He also asserted that Congress has the authority to legislate on the issue because of the significant funding it provides to colleges and universities. Although Harvard is a private institution, nearly 20 percent of its students receive federal Pell Grants.
The debate surrounding legacy admissions continues, with Democrats pushing for legislation to ban the practice and garnering some surprising support from Republican lawmakers. The aim is to create fairer admissions processes and ensure diversity in higher education institutions.