Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2023

Media Contact:  Miya Walker; Public Affairs

NORWALK, Calif. – June 29, 2023 – Cerritos College stands in support of equitable access to education for students of all backgrounds. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the race-conscious admissions systems used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are unconstitutional, illegally violating the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. 

“Today’s Supreme Court’s ruling on Affirmative Action is deeply upsetting,” said Dr. Jose Fierro, Cerritos College president/superintendent. “For more than four decades, Affirmative Action policies have helped equalize the college admissions process, considering a student’s racial background as one factor in their overall experience and qualifications. Despite the Supreme Court’s decision, we, at Cerritos College, are committed to creating access and opportunity for all students, including those from marginalized backgrounds.”

“The Cerritos College Board of Trustees finds this ruling quite unsettling,” echoed Dr. Shin Liu, Cerritos College Board of Trustees president. “The Justices are on the wrong side of history and have rolled back years of hard work for equity and access to higher education for Black and Latino students. This ruling makes our work even more focused as we continue the fight to ensure our students receive the best education possible regardless of their background. We reaffirm our strong support for increasing student achievement for historically underrepresented students and diversity among faculty, students, staff, and programs.”

 

About Cerritos College: Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers nearly 300 degrees and certificates in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently averages 21,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu. 

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