The United States Supreme Court has ruled that race-based admissions programs at public and private universities violate the Constitution. In a 6-3 ruling, the court concluded that any use of race as a factor in college admissions is unconstitutional. The case was brought by Students for Fair Admissions against Harvard and the University of North Carolina, alleging discrimination against white and Asian American applicants. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, based the opinion on a new interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment. He argued that previous rulings allowed for the use of race as a factor, but not as directly race-conscious as Harvard and North Carolina's programs. The court did note that universities may consider an applicant's discussion of how race affects their life, but overall, race cannot be a determining factor. Advocates for affirmative action argue that the ruling ignores the importance of diversity on college campuses, while opponents believe it is a step towards equality under the law.