The Supreme Court appears ready to abolish affirmative action later this year.

A case seeking to declare unconstitutional has schools that consider race and admissions really worried.

They're not sure how to build diversity among their students without affirmative action.

The most extreme action the court could take would be to overrule 40 plus years precedent

and strike down a doctrine that has been a foundation for much of higher education admissions.

Here in California, though, we already know what happens when programs like affirmative action are banned.

In 1996, voters passed a first ballot initiative in the country

to ban the consideration of race or gender and public education.

The lessons college administrators took away is one that so resonates today.

With the incoming class of 1997, the number of blacks admitted decreased 81% while Hispanic admissions fell 50%.

You see administrators say nothing can fully substitute for affirmative action when it comes

to diversifying the student body on college campuses.

I'm Gustav Ariano. You're listening to the Times, essential news from the LA Times.

It's Wednesday, January 4th, 2023. Today, how the University of California system has dealt with a 25-year ban on affirmative action, and what we can learn from it if a national ban does happen.

My colleague Teresa Wananabe covers education for the Los Angeles Times.

Teresa, welcome to the Times.

Thank you.

So what's this anti-affirmative action moment in the Supreme Court about?

Right now, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering challenges to affirmative action moment in the Supreme Court about? Right now, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering

challenges to affirmative action at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. And those lawsuits

have been brought by this organization called Students for Fair Admissions, which is headed by a guy

named Edward Bloom.

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