MILWAUKEE — The Supreme Court’s decision to limit the use of race as a factor in college admissions has some students questioning what is to come.
Tinula Oladebo, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, came to America two years ago to pursue an education in nursing.
Though it was a scary decision to leave her home in Nigeria, she said coming to America gave her strength and courage, something she said not a lot of people have.
The diverse student body at UW-Milwaukee has made this transition for Oladebo easier for her to adjust to a new life.
“It’s not like you are seen as less, as a statistic, or less an individual,” said Oladebo. “You are just welcomed. That helped me as an international student in this whole process.”
When Oladebo heard the news about the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down college affirmative action programs, she said she felt this decision could present some challenges for minority students.
“If it is eliminated, that means there is no priority to me, no priority to first-generation students and what not,” said Oladebo. “That’s my fear and that’s going to be a big one there.”
She said she thinks universities should consider one’s race because it allows universities to create safe and inclusive spaces for students.
“Anything that’s going to put the minority group again at more deficit shouldn’t be the policy or efforts that we are reinforcing,” she said.
The long-term impact is something she said she will be watching closely.
“Its implementation would definitely eliminate some issues, but it would also erupt some new ones and expand some existing ones already,” she said.
For now, she has bigger dreams in continuing to pursue her education. She is working toward her doctorate at the Medical College of Wisconsin, studying public health.
She said the inclusivity she’s experienced so far has helped her thrive on her academic journey.