The Future of College Admissions: A Conversation with Edward J. Blum

Event Summary

On February 5, Students for Fair Admissions President Edward J. Blum joined AEI’s director of Education Policy Studies, Frederick M. Hess, for a fireside chat on race-based affirmative action in higher education. Mr. Blum discussed how his experience running for elected office in Texas shaped his view on racial gerrymandering, which then led to his legal activism against race-based preferences in college admissions. Mr. Blum then described the history of legal actions against affirmative action in college admissions, including the Supreme Court cases Grutter v. Bollinger and Fisher v. University of Texas, and explained the origins of Students for Fair Admissions and the cases against Harvard and the University of North Carolina.

Dr. Hess and Mr. Blum then discussed the particulars of the ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, including the “military academy loophole” and “essay loophole,” and delved into colleges’ responses to the ruling. The event concluded with an audience Q&A.

—Anna Low

Event Description

The 2023 Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard significantly altered the college admissions landscape by effectively banning race as a factor in admissions. The landmark ruling triggered a slew of changes in admissions policies nationwide.

Edward J. Blum, president of Students for Fair Admissions, has been the driving force behind many successful lawsuits alleging race-based discrimination in higher education and other fields. In this event, Mr. Blum will sit down with AEI’s director of education policy studies, Frederick M. Hess, for a robust conversation on how Mr. Blum worked to topple race-based admissions, how universities’ admissions policies have changed since the decision, and what broader implications the decision could hold for universities moving forward.