August 3, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, NY – Today, The City Council passed a resolution (Res. No. 0237A-2022) introduced by Council Member Eric Dinowitz. The resolution calls on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign the Fair College Admissions Act (A.1423-A/S.1470-A), which would prohibit legacy admissions preferences at undergraduate institutions in New York State.

The resolution aims to tackle the issue of legacy admissions, which can provide an unfair advantage to students with family connections to a particular school. The resolution was introduced in June 2022, prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that effectively ended affirmative action in higher education admissions.

“I am honored to spearhead this resolution urging New York State to ban the practice of legacy admissions,” said Council Member Dinowitz. “We must address this issue head-on and ensure educational, economic, and social equity for all New Yorkers who seek access to a college education. Legacy admissions is a relic of the past that has long favored white and wealthy families at the cost of applicants of color and other disadvantaged groups. I stand by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker in their efforts to secure fairness and meritocracy in our educational institutions, rather than family connections or background.”

“With affirmative action dissolved by a conservative Supreme Court, the time is now to do away with legacy admissions — at its core, it is just affirmative action for the privileged,” said New York Senator Andrew Gounardes. “This is why I have proposed the Fair College Admissions Act in the New York State Senate, which ends the use of legacy preferences, and why I applaud Councilmember Dinowitz’s resolution in the City Council to do the same.

“The Fair College Admissions Act takes on even greater importance given the recent Supreme Court decision to end affirmative action in college admissions,” said Assemblywoman Latrice Walker. “I am proud to be the lead Assembly sponsor of the bill, which will level the playing field for low-income and working-class families who want to send their children to college in New York State. The bill seeks to eliminate the structural barriers created by legacy admissions policies, which tend to reward connected and affluent white students and discriminate against students of color and first-generation students. I wholeheartedly support the City Council resolution. I also implore my colleagues in the State Legislature to pass the bill, and I urge Gov. Hochul to sign it into law. We must take a stand for equity and end this privilege for the privileged.”