Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Fifth Circuit Decision in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin Reaffirming the Importance of Diversity
WASHINGTON – Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 2-1 ruling in favor of the University of Texas’ equal opportunity admissions policy. On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit’s decision reaffirms that colleges and universities have a compelling interest in fostering diverse learning environments:
“Today’s decision is an important victory for our nation’s ongoing work to build a more inclusive, diverse America. The educational benefits of diversity are clear and the court’s decision reaffirms that it is in our national interest to expand opportunities for everyone.
Our nation’s colleges and universities play a critical role in preparing our children for a diverse, increasingly competitive global workforce. They need to have every tool at their disposal to create the kind of environment that will give our kids the best shot of success. As the court affirmed, the University of Texas’s admissions policy is a carefully crafted one that is designed to create the diverse learning environments that are critical to the educational success of all students.
Today, the court makes it clear that it’s time to expand our commitment to diversity in all of our institutions to ensure that we are well-positioned to compete in a 21st century economy.”
Wade Henderson is president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.