Back in high school, I remember vividly having to defend affirmative action as part of my final grade for my speech and debate class. Years later, here I am again, defending affirmative action, but now as a mother of a soon-to-be college-bound daughter. The cumulative effect of my defense of affirmative action can be summed up in one word: TIRED. The recent Supreme Court decisions set a new precedent that will have grave implications for the future of higher education. "Without tools such as affirmative action, the opportunity gap in education only widens."