Protesters rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court as oral arguments begin in two affirmative action college admission cases. The Supreme Court's conservative majority signaled skepticism Monday over the use of race-conscious admissions at American colleges in one of the most controversial cases before the court this year, questioning the boundaries of such policies and whether they are actually needed to ensure diversity. At issue are policies at Harvard College and the University of North Carolina that permit admissions offices to weigh the race of applicants as one of many factors that help decide who will be accepted. Depending on the scope of the court's ruling, the outcome could have profound implications beyond higher education – spilling over into workplace diversity programs and other efforts to confront discrimination. 📷: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY; @gettyimages