An anti-affirmative action group has filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Military Academy’s race-conscious admissions policies following the Supreme Court’s recent rulings against similar programs at public higher education institutions.
The Virginia-based Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), founded by affirmative action opponent Edward Blum, filed the suit challenging West Point’s race-conscious admissions policy, arguing that it is unconstitutional and unnecessary for a service that relies on soldiers following orders regardless of race.
“Instead of admitting future cadets based on objective metrics and leadership potential, West Point focuses on race,” the suit reads. “In fact, it openly publishes its racial composition’ goals,’ and its director of admissions brags that race is wholly determinative for hundreds if not thousands of applicants.”
Minorities make up 39 percent of the 1,255 cadets admitted into West Point for the class of 2027, according to the academy’s website.
SFFA is the same group that lodged the original complaints against race-conscious admissions at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, leading to the Supreme Court’s June ban on such policies at public colleges and universities.
However, the Supreme Court did not address the use of race in military academy admissions, leaving the issue open for future litigation. Chief Justice John Roberts suggested in a footnote that military academies may have “potentially distinct interests” in the matter.
Blum said in a statement that given the recent Supreme Court decision, “it logically follows that the U.S. military’s higher education institutions should also terminate their race-based policies.”
West Point declined to comment on the lawsuit in a statement on Tuesday, citing its commitment to fairness for all parties involved.
