Jeff Merkley
Role at the time: U.S. senator from Oregon
Condemned
Statement summary
Merkley criticizes a result that he says reduces opportunity for underrepresented students while wealthy students retain advantages from donor and legacy preferences.
“The last thing we should want is a world in which underrepresented students are given less opportunity while the wealthiest and most privileged students have their own special form of affirmative action.”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)Merkley criticizes the affirmative-action decision and legacy preferencesStatement following the June 29, 2023 introduction
Merkley criticizes the admissions ruling, endorses Sotomayor's dissent and calls for restrictions on donor and legacy preferences.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The ruling rejecting the challenged admissions programs is the reference point. In his response to that decision, Merkley criticizes the unequal opportunities he says it leaves in place. His proposed legacy-admissions reform is a remedy for that concern.