The U.S. Supreme Court began its term Monday with a new justice on the bench and cases on the docket that could have major implications for education, voting rights and LGBTQ rights.
There is a 6-3 conservative majority and four women justices, including Ketanji Brown Jackson, who recently became the first Black woman to serve on the court. The court will hear oral arguments on Oct. 31 in a case brought by the conservative Students for Admissions. The group is challenging the consideration of race in admission at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. The decision could cause a ripple effect across the country.
Florida International University serves a diverse community of students, and senior Carlos Padilla shared his thoughts on race-conscious admissions.
“I’m pretty aware of, not only from the Latin America perspective but also as a Hispanic immigrant in the United States, the disadvantages we have,” he said. “We have a sector of the population that has been discriminated against for so long. It is our social responsibility to advocate for them and give equal opportunities. ”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has made his stance on education clear. The Stop WOKE Act, which sets limits on how race-related issues in schools and the workplace are taught, regards affirmative action as an inappropriate means of addressing historical discrimination.
As of right now, the court is set to hear 36 cases and is open to the public for the first time since 2020.
