Charles Barkley has reacted to the Supreme Court’s ruling that race can no longer be a factor in college admissions, describing it as a “shot in the bow, man.”
The NBA Hall of Famer, upon learning of the ruling, felt compelled to take drastic measures in support of future black students attending his alma mater Auburn University, according to a report on AL.com. During an announcement Friday, Barkley revealed his decision to include a $5 million bequest to Auburn in his will.
He said, “I’m going to change it so it’s just for scholarships for black students. This is my way of trying to make sure Auburn stays diverse.”
Barkley expressed his deep affection for Auburn and initially had plans to direct the funds to students from impoverished backgrounds. However, after receiving numerous calls in the wake of the recent ruling, he decided to change his will exclusively in support of black students. He emphasized that securing a place for black people at Auburn is the right thing to do and a reflection of his commitment to promoting diversity at the university.
On Friday, the Supreme Court made the groundbreaking decision blocking Harvard University and the University of North Carolina (UNC) from using racial preferences in their application acceptance process.
Chief Justice John Roberts expressed in the majority opinion that any benefit granted to a student who has overcome racial discrimination should be based on their individual experiences, courage and determination, rather than their race. He criticized universities for prioritizing the color of a student’s skin instead of focusing on their personal growth, skills and achievements, claiming that such an approach is contrary to our constitutional history.
“Eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating everything,” Roberts wrote. “Consequently, the Court has considered that the equal protection clause applies “without regard to differences of race, color or nationality”; it is “universal in [its] application.’ for ‘[t]The guarantee of equal protection cannot mean one thing when applied to an individual and another when applied to a person of another color”.
According to data from Auburn University, black student enrollment declined slightly from 5.3 percent in 2020 to 4.91 percent in fall 2022. Barkley acknowledged the historic lack of diversity at Auburn and expressed their determination to address the problem. He explained that while he had considered making his bequest exclusively for black students when he initially drafted his will, the recent ruling played a major role in his decision.
Barkley said, “We’ve always lacked diversity. I’m doing my part to make sure we’re more diverse.”
READ MORE:
Supreme Court strikes against racially biased college admissions rules
“*” Indicates mandatory fields
OPINION: This article contains comments that reflect the opinion of the author.
English 
Español de Venezuela