From VOA Learning English, this is the Education Report.Reaction appears mixed to a recent United States Supreme Court decision on affirmative action in university admissions.Affirmative action in admissions means that schools give special consideration to some racial or ethnic minorities.The goal is to create a more diverse campus, and to give more opportunities to groups that are under-represented in higher education.The Supreme Court ruled that race can be one of many factors considered when a student applies to a college or university.The court said education benefits from having diverse student populations.Some legal experts expressed surprise at the decision. They thought the justices would strike down a 2003 Supreme Court ruling.That ruling let universities use race in admissions decisions, but also said race needs to be just one factor among others.In the new decision, the justices did not deal with the question of affirmative action itself, as many observers had expected.The court did not decide whether the idea violates the right of equal protection under the law, as guaranteed by the constitution.
