A Paradox in Meritocracy

The Supreme Court’s decision to ban affirmative action last summer was expected to drastically change the demographics of college campuses around the country.

David Leonhardt, who has written about affirmative action for The Times, explains the extent and nature of that change as the new academic year gets underway.

Guest: David Leonhardt, a senior writer who runs The Morning, The Times’s flagship daily newsletter.

Background reading: 

• Two elite colleges have seen shifts in racial makeup after the affirmative action ban.
• The Supreme Court decision last year rejected affirmative action programs at Harvard and North Carolina.

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