What did the Supreme Court decide in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke?

• A. Affirmative action was deemed unconstitutional
• B. Race can be one factor in admissions decisions
• C. All affirmative action programs were abolished
• D. College admissions should be purely based on test scores

Answer: (B)

In the case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, the Supreme Court issued a significant ruling regarding affirmative action policies in college admissions. The Court determined that while affirmative action in higher education is permissible, race can be considered as one factor among many in the admissions process. This ruling came in response to Allan Bakke, who challenged the University of California's medical school admissions policy that set aside spots for minority applicants, which he argued discriminated against him based on his race.

The decision acknowledged the value of diversity in educational environments but also emphasized that rigid quotas, as used by the university, were unconstitutional. This landmark case allowed institutions to implement affirmative action strategies as long as they were not based on strict quotas and provided a holistic assessment of applicants that included race as one of several factors. This nuanced approach aimed to balance the goals of promoting diversity and maintaining fairness in admissions.