Using the quota system, which requires a certain number of minorities to be admitted, was outlawed for Universities in the 1978 Bakke vs. Regents of the University of California case. Before this case, Universities could require that a certain percentage of students be of a minority race. After a white male, Bakke, was not admitted to the school based on the fact that he was white, the Supreme Court outlawed this discriminatory practice. So at this point, it seems quotas should not be allowed, right? Wrong. Though a University may not be “allowed” to have a specific number requirement, quotas are still, in a sense, used. In the Grutter vs. Bollinger case, a white woman sued the University of Michigan on the grounds that she was not admitted into their law school because she was white. The ruling was in favor of Michigan, claiming the University did not hold explicit numbers, simply race was just a plus. In other words, this means that though a college cannot come out and say that a certain number of minorities is required, it can regard race as a “bonus” on an application. Michigan used a point system, giving minority races extra points, specifically more points than a perfect SAT score. In contemplating this school’s regard of minorities, isn’t the point system having similar affects as quotas? The Supreme Court ruled that this was in fact not discriminatory, yet quotas are. How are point systems not discriminatory if they are giving minorities advantages over whites? To clarify, I’m sure that many Universities do not use the point system in reviewing applications. However, minorities are regarded more highly than whites, certainly if other qualifications are the same. Therefore, how can the Supreme Court rule that outward and explicit practices of discrimination are unconstitutional yet seemingly indecisive methods are not? Is the basis of this ruling that Universities must be secretive in their admission requirements? Is the point of these admission requirements to have the public somewhat unaware of the practices? The Supreme Court must make up their minds. Is race priority discrimination or not?
The quota system may be beneficial to other types of work, but I agree that is it certainly not in University admission standards. The idea of college admissions being more favorable of races other than Caucasian seems bias and unjust in itself. How is it then justified to instead use this point system because the quota system was outlawed due to discriminatory practice?
ReplyDeleteI am by no means prejudice or racist, but I do not think that minorities should be more accepted and valued over majorities. I think it is great to have diversity and cultural differences, especially in college when we are really starting to experience the world. Even so, all races should have a fair chance at getting into their desired institution. I feel as though if these boards were not permitted to see race or ethnicity, maybe it would be less biased.
I also agree that it is questionable that the Supreme Court can outlaw the quota system, but not persecute the point system when they practically do the same thing. In a world where racism is prevalent in so many other aspects of society, shouldn’t being getting into college be such an important decision that unfair favor should be devoid of?
To begin with, I think you have done an excellent job of organizing the facts and minimizing bias. I really appreciate the way you have presented such a sensitive issue.
ReplyDeleteNow, on to the subject of affirmative action- I completely agree that race should not be used in any way as an advantage or disadvantage for any person. Admittance to a school on the basis of being a minority is shameful to the progress minorities have made throughout history. It seems that we have not learned anything from our past as a nation in this respect. Haven’t we figured out that treating someone differently because of the color of his or her skin is wrong? Why does that question only apply to the negatives that go along with being a minority? Now, I realize that minorities have to deal with a lot of things in their lives’ that white Americans cannot even imagine but I do not understand why it is not racism when a (hypothetically speaking) more qualified white student is turned away for the admittance of a less qualified minority student. Why are there questions regarding race and sex on applications anyways? In my opinion, a person should be judge on their ability and not their appearance.