Should race be taken into consideration when deciding college admissions?

MADISON (WITI) -- Should those who apply for college be required to reveal their race on their college application? Affirmative action has been banned in Michigan -- meaning race cannot be taken into consideration when deciding college admissions. The Supreme Court says affirmative action is constitutional, so what could that mean for racial minorities applying to college in Wisconsin?

At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, sophomore Amanda Porter says affirmative action helps to level the playing field against historic racism and systemic inequality.

"Everyone is not as fortunate as the average white Caucasian student," Porter said.

19-year-old freshman Jalen Anderson disagrees. He says merit, and nothing else should decide admissions.

"I think you should get into college based on your education, what you did in high school -- not the color of your skin," Anderson said.

Race is again dominating conversations on college campuses after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Michigan constitutional amendment that bans affirmative action.

The ruling effectively gives similar measures in other states the green light.

Republican state Senator Glenn Grothman is leading the effort to ban affirmative action in Wisconsin.

"These preferences are illegal in the first place. As far as universities are concerned, it puts a pale over the accomplishments of people of color because people wonder, did they just get admitted because of where their great, great, grandparents are from?" Sen. Grothman said.

Wisconsin U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin says the decision to ban affirmative action in Michigan is troubling.

"I've been disappointed sometimes when minority rights are left to the popular will," Sen. Baldwin said.

Back at UWM, Amanda Porter says until racism is gone, the preferences should remain.

"It may seem unfair, but I feel like kind of now, it's evening the playing field just a little," Porter said.

So far no other Wisconsin lawmakers have agreed to co-sponsor the Grothman measure.

What do you think? Should Wisconsin follow Michigan and ban affirmative action?

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