Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Students’ Protests May Play Role in Supreme Court Case on Race in Admissions
Another affirmative action court case is coming before the Supreme Court. White applicant Abigail Fisher was denied admission to the University of Texas at Austin, and claims it is due to the school's unconstitutional racial preferences. In this case, the argument for affirmative action focus more on the importance of a diverse campus as opposed to showing the program as a way to address racial disadvantages caused by the past. The various protests that have taken place on campuses across the nation over racial issues will affect the outcome of the ruling, one way or another. Those in favor of affirmative action claim that the protests on campus are a healthy result of students from various backgrounds disagreeing on different issues. However, those who oppose affirmative action claim that protests are a result of students who otherwise wouldn't have gotten into a given college protesting racial prejudice when in reality they don't do as well because they are worse students. Are you for or against affirmative action? What do you think student protests indicate about affirmative action? What outcome do you expect in the upcoming Supreme Court case?
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I'm for affirmative action. Having a diverse campus is important, so I don't see anything wrong with race being considered as a "plus factor" when students apply to college. I also think the recent student protests are just an example of a "healthy debate" between intellectuals, not "a consequence of admitting some students with inferior academic qualifications." I think the Supreme Court's decision will be in favor of affirmative action.
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ReplyDeleteAffirmative action is wrong. Admissions to a university should be based on merit alone and they should not even know your name race or gender when reviewing your application. The student protests are an example of the challenging of this topic and i think very soon there will be more. I honestly don't know what the supreme courts decision will be.
ReplyDeleteAffirmative Action I believe is only somewhat necessary in smaller dosages. Some minorities do have trouble getting jobs or as seen here being accepted to college, but an Affirmative action plan shouldn't take precedent over basic scholarly merit in being accepted. I think the protests show affirmative action creates a lot of debate and conflict so in this case it should at least be reduced. The case will probably rule that affirmative action is necessary even in schools.
ReplyDeleteI understand the purpose of affirmative action but I believe at this point it has become overused. I fully support a diverse campus but I don't think at this point in time diversity is guaranteed through race. If there were to be an affirmative action program, I think it should be based on socioeconomic status because that confirms that the students under affirmative action have different backgrounds and are definitely benefitting from the program. There are plenty of minority families who have the same income and white families yet their children are receiving significantly more amounts of scholarship based on race. I think students are getting more frustrated with these issues surrounding affirmative action, indicated by the protests in Texas; however, I do not think that the Supreme Court will remove the program in the future.
ReplyDeleteI understand why affirmative may be necessary in some cases but I disagree with it for the most part. I side with Kyle on this, acceptance to colleges show be based on merit. Race and gender should not be an over powering factor. As much as I disagree with it, I think the Supreme Court will rule in the favor of affirmative action.
ReplyDeleteI have a difficult time forming a concrete opinion on affirmative action. On one side, I see the need for diversity and respect a university's mission to increase it. Minorities face difficult obstacles to get ahead in this country. However, I also see merit in the argument that admission to college should be based solely on factors that a person is responsible for: grades, academic achievements, community service, etc. The issue with this is that these achievements are harder to accomplish for many minorities. I think the Supreme Court will uphold affirmative action; it's too soon to make any drastic changes.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think having a diverse campus is important, I can't say I'm completely on board with the whole affirmative action thing. I think that merit should be the deciding factor for students who wish to go to college. I think that the student protests prove that some students are displeased with colleges' current selection system. Even so, I wouldn't be surprised if a good number of the protesters are simply students who wish to blame someone for not getting into the college they applied for. Whichever way the Supreme Court rules, the issue of affirmative action will not be closed with this case.
ReplyDeleteI think affirmative action has its strengths and weaknesses, but I see many more weaknesses and the idea of it has evidently worked against its mission. There are many minority students who weren't given the proper education to compete with privileged students, so I see the necessity of affirmative action in that respect. On the other hand, I more often see a hardworking white student be turned down from their first choice school because they AREN'T minority. It's become reversed and merit is not a determining factor, as it should be. Unfortunately for these students, the court case will probably vote in favor of affirmative action, because diversity is a very desirable trait.
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult for me to decide my opinion on affirmative action because of my background as a mixed-race student. But I personally support affirmative action, as I do think it is important for universities to be diverse, but more importantly it would help to close the socioeconomic gap between majority and minority groups in the United States, as education does improve prospects for a successful career. However, I do not think affirmative action is perfect, nor should it apply to every minority. It is meant to aid those who, because of years of disadvantages in society and/or de facto segregation, would otherwise not be able to attain higher education. So it does not make sense that affirmative action should apply to minorities of higher socioeconomic status who are not impeded by discrimination at all.
ReplyDeleteTheoretically, affirmative action should be temporary, as it would close the gap and level the playing fields for minorities, at which point it would be unnecessary and unfair to other students, as protesters believe.
While I am generalizing, it does seem as if many of those who oppose affirmative action are the ones who would not benefit from it. Also, it has the ridiculous effect of some white students fishing for any minority status, such as Native American lineage, they might have to boost their likelihood of acceptance (I speak from personal experience). I do get the idea that it seems unfair to white students, though, and I don't think students should feel they have to resort to crazy measures like this.