NAACP New York State Conference Joins Coalition to End Unfair Legacy College Admissions in New York.

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NAACP New York State Conference Joins Coalition to End Unfair Legacy College Admissions in New York 

[New York, NY - March 7, 2024] - The NAACP New York State Conference proudly announces its partnership with the New York Coalition for Fair College Admissions, a coalition committed to advancing equity and justice in education by ending unfair legacy admissions practices at New York colleges. This collaboration underscores the NAACP's longstanding dedication to ensuring equal access to higher education opportunities for all students, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.

The Fair College Admissions Act (S.4170A/A.1423A), sponsored by New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Latrice Walker, would prohibit legacy preferences in all public and private New York colleges. Nearly 70 New York colleges—over 40% of all four-year institutions in the state—provide a legacy preference, putting first-generation students at a disadvantage and undermining racial and economic diversity in admissions.

The New York Coalition for Fair College Admissions comprises a diverse array of organizations and advocates working together to address inequities in the college admissions process. By joining forces with this coalition, the NAACP New York State Conference aims to amplify its advocacy efforts and effect meaningful change in the realm of higher education.

"At the NAACP, we recognize that access to quality education is essential for breaking the cycle of inequality and empowering individuals to reach their full potential," said Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference. "However, systemic barriers continue to hinder the educational opportunities of many students, particularly those from marginalized communities. By joining the New York Coalition for Fair College Admissions, we are sending a clear message that we will not tolerate discrimination or inequity in the college admissions process.”

The coalition's mission aligns closely with the NAACP's overarching goals of promoting social justice and fighting against discrimination in all its forms. Through collaborative advocacy initiatives, including policy advocacy, community outreach, and public awareness campaigns, the NAACP New York State Conference and its partners in the coalition will work to address disparities in college admissions and promote fair and equitable practices.

"All students deserve a fair shot at a quality college education, but legacy preferences perpetuate inequality and shut the door on first-generation students," said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. "I'm proud to be sponsoring legislation that will make higher education more accessible and equitable for everyone, and I'm deeply grateful to the NAACP New York State Conference for their partnership on this bill and for their tireless efforts to create a better, fairer New York."

“I am proud to be the lead Assembly sponsor of the Fair College Admissions Act, 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,” said Assemblywoman Latrice Walker. “Legacy admissions generally benefit wealthy students who are predominantly white. Selecting these students based on family connections or wealth is inherently discriminatory. The children of low-income, first-generation, working-class and immigrant families deserve the right to compete on their own merit for admission to institutions of higher learning in New York State. The doors to college should swing open with opportunity. They should not be slammed shut to any student seeking to further his or her education. Legacy admissions are vestiges of the past. They are inherently unfair and should be eliminated from New York. We must end this privilege for the privileged – especially in the wake of the Supreme Court’s gutting of Affirmative Action with respect to college admissions.”

“When the Supreme Court gutted affirmative action, it injected even more racial bias into higher education — making ending legacy admission for New York colleges and universities a racial justice imperative," said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. "Policies that give preference to the children of alumni were expressly developed to keep Black, Brown, and Jewish students out of the schools that they had been denied entrance to for decades. Today, legacy admissions functions as affirmative action for white students — particularly those whose wealth and access to education traces back through generations. New York cannot continue to allow this inequitable, discriminatory policy that denies so many students the education they deserve.”

“We’re excited that the NAACP New York State Conference, one of the leaders in advancing social justice in New York, is joining our years-long fight to end legacy admissions,” said Jacquelyn Martell, executive director of Education Reform Now New York. “For three years, Education Reform Now has led the way in the fight to make college admissions fairer in the state of New York, and nationally, and we could not do this work without this critical partnership. We’re proud to stand with the NAACP, who in 2023 called on more than 1,600 U.S. public and private colleges and universities with selective admissions processes to prioritize diversity, after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action. In 2024, New York must pass this pivotal bill and fix a wrong that will finally end this systemic injustice.”

“As a first generation and low-income student at Cornell University and child of Vietnamese Refugees, I grew up with the lack of academic support throughout my K-12 education journey," said Jonathan Lam, student at Cornell University. “I nearly failed the fifth grade and my parents couldn't afford fancy tutoring or pre-collegiate services for myself. Without organizations such as Thrive Scholars I wouldn't be at Cornell University and at Cornell, I've received support through the Office of Academic Initiatives. But with the overturn of Affirmative Action, it poses a real challenge to Thrive Scholars and academic support programs at colleges like Cornell for Students who are also First generation low-income students of color. We need New York to end legacy admissions as it puts First Generation Low-Income BIPOC Students at a disadvantage. Instead, we need to uplift BIPOC students and implement policies that will actually allow us to thrive and succeed in higher education."

The NAACP New York State Conference encourages individuals and organizations across the state to join the coalition's efforts and stand together in the fight for fair college admissions.

For more information about the NAACP New York State Conference and its partnership with the New York Coalition for Fair College Admissions, please contact media@nysnaacp.org.


About NAACP New York State Conference
The overall goal of the NAACP National Education Department is to ensure that all students have access to an equal and high-quality public education by eliminating all education related racial and ethnic disparities. Through advocacy training, policy development and guidance, building collaborative networks, and direct action, the National Education Department works to accomplish this goal with assistance from NAACP, state and local education committee chairs as well as our Partners in Education.


Media contact:
Christine Waters (She/Her)
NAACP NYS Conference, Education Chair
Cwaters1@optonline.net
P.  212-344-7474  F.  212-344-4447
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