Appeals Court: Texas Can Use Race in Admissions

[jimmy olsen]

What exactly does that mean?

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/appeals-court-texas-can-use-race-admissions-n156786

Appeals Court: Texas Can Use Race in Admissions

A federal appeals court panel ruled Tuesday that the University of Texas can continue using race in its undergraduate admissions, a year after the U.S. Supreme Court sent the case back to a lower court. A 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled 2-1 that barring the university from using race would hurt diversity on campus. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed in 2008 by Abigail Fisher, who is white and was denied admission.

"We are persuaded that to deny UT Austin its limited use of race in its search for holistic diversity would hobble the richness of the educational experience," the panel found.

The case went to the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2013. But rather than issue a landmark decision on affirmative action, the high court voted 7-1 to tell a lower appeals court to take another look at Fisher's lawsuit. The university said at the time that that decision would have no effect on its admissions policies. The university scheduled a news conference later Tuesday to react to the latest ruling. Fisher's attorneys said they plan to appeal.

[Syt]

limited use of race in its search for holistic diversity

Sounds like a 1970s psychedelic album.

[Valmy]

Good.  We can finally limit the over-represented Asians.

[derspiess]

Both universities I attended had a deficit of Asians.  So I guess I was cheated of a diverse/rich educational experience from the other side

[Savonarola]

Both universities I attended had a deficit of Asians.  So I guess I was cheated of a diverse/rich educational experience from the other side

You should have majored in engineering.  In several of my graduate school classes I was the token white person.   

[CountDeMoney]

Defetus double-majored in "Caucasian-American History" and "Male Studies."

[derspiess]

With a minor in Straight Theory.

[The Minsky Moment]

What exactly does that mean?

This was a case that was previously before the Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court held that promoting racial diversity could be permissible motive for the use of race in admissions decisions.  It sent the case back down to determine whether the particular means used by UT were sufficiently "narrowly tailored".  That is the only real legal question that was involved here. 

The "holistic" business came up because Fisher argued that the goals of diversity had already been achieved, based on a raw percentage of African-American and Hispanic students.  That is, the petitioner argued somewhat ironicially that diversity goals should be measured entirely by a numerical benchmark or quota.  The university disgreed and not that surprisingly so did the court.

[Valmy]

That is, the petitioner argued somewhat ironicially that diversity goals should be measured entirely by a numerical benchmark or quota.  The university disgreed and not that surprisingly so did the court.

What are the other measurements for diversity?

[DontSayBanana]

You should have majored in engineering.  In several of my graduate school classes I was the token white person.   

Not to mention faculty representation.  At the college I'm going to in the fall, 44% of the CSIS faculty are Asian.  In fact, my professor for Systems Analysis & Design is pretty much totally off-the-boat Chinese- even her grad degree was completed in Hong Kong).

[CountDeMoney]

Great, an entire generation of CSIS-certified eggheads that can't drive for shit.

[DontSayBanana]

Also:

I'd actually be in favor of a striking of affirmative action.  The 14th prohibits discimination based on race.  It doesn't say "Discrimination prohibited based on race.  Unless you're white.  In which case, discriminate away- they had their chance."

[derspiess]

Not to mention faculty representation.  At the college I'm going to in the fall, 44% of the CSIS faculty are Asian.  In fact, my professor for Systems Analysis & Design is pretty much totally off-the-boat Chinese- even her grad degree was completed in Hong Kong).

At both universities I attended the computer science faculty were nearly all white male nerds and Indian females.  I don't think I ever had an Asian instructor for any of my classes at all.

[The Minsky Moment]

Also:

I'd actually be in favor of a striking of affirmative action.  The 14th prohibits discimination based on race.  It doesn't say "Discrimination prohibited based on race.  Unless you're white.  In which case, discriminate away- they had their chance."

Here's what the relevant language actually says:
"No state shall . . . deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

[dps]

Also:

I'd actually be in favor of a striking of affirmative action.  The 14th prohibits discimination based on race.  It doesn't say "Discrimination prohibited based on race.  Unless you're white.  In which case, discriminate away- they had their chance."

Here's what the relevant language actually says:
"No state shall . . . deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

I think DontSayBanana may have been thinking of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, not the 14th Amendment.