Southwestern College is a diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The community creates a rich fabric of stories, cultures, identities and lived experiences that strengthen the learning environment for all. Southwestern College has the added benefits of being located in a diverse community and being an open access college — meaning any student who completes an admissions application can attend our college.
The impact of California’s passing of Prop 209 in 1996 which banned affirmative action should serve as evidence of what could happen across the country now that the Supreme Court has elected to move in this direction. California university admissions data since the removal of affirmative action does not suggest equality has been achieved by any stretch.
The systemic inequalities that impact communities of color, such as disparate economic conditions and access to well-resourced schools, continue to persist. This limits access to higher education for students of color despite and not because of the students’ intelligence, capabilities, and abilities to work hard. Therefore, banning affirmative action nationally ignores the systemic inequities that exist in our educational and economic systems in this country.
Dr. Mark Sanchez is Superintendent and President at Southwestern College
