California: Affirmative Action Ban Upheld
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 3, 2012 </p>
<p>A federal appeals court panel on Monday upheld California’s ban on using race, ethnicity and gender in admitting students to public colleges and universities. The ruling was the second time the Ninth United States Circuit Court of Appeals turned back a challenge to the state’s landmark voter initiative, Proposition 209, which was passed in 1996. Affirmative action proponents, who had requested that the court reconsider its 1997 decision after the United States Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that affirmative action could be used in college admissions, said they would ask the full appellate court to review the case since this decision was issued by a three-judge panel. At least six states have adopted bans on affirmative action in state college admissions. Besides California, they include Michigan, Arizona, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Washington. In its ruling, the court rejected the plaintiffs’ arguments that a new ruling is needed and said the previous decision still applies. In February, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case against the University of Texas alleging that affirmative action is discriminatory. If the court decides against the university, the ruling could definitively end consideration of race in public university admissions. </p>
<p>Can't wait for harvard and ivy league schools to ban the affirmative action in college admission. What will the Supreme court do on the U of Texas case ?? They should support EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EDUCATION instead.</p>
<p>affirmative action in college admission is what Harvard and most top private colleges practice and thus the article is clearly connected to harvard. The case against U.Texas can first affect public universities and could affect private colleges too. The disadvantaged applicants by this unfair process will be interested in the future decisions by the court and by the colleges, Harvard included.</p>
<p>“A federal appeals court panel on Monday upheld California’s ban on using race, ethnicity and gender in admitting students to public colleges and universities.” Note that the ruling applies to public colleges and universities. Harvard is a private institution and thus not bound by this ruling.</p>
<p>Harvard can’t discriminate–eg take only blue eyed white boys–if they receive federal funds but don’t have to use or not use affirmative action. They are careful in how it is phrased–which is key–so as not to be viewed as discriminating and thus violating Federal regulations. It isn’t as cut and dry, but courts will give private institutions a great deal of slack. Also those private institutions which have as their mission to educate a certain type of person–women’s colleges, historically black colleges for example, or religious colleges would be free to continue their practices.</p>
<p>UC, UTexas and UFlorida and other state schools are public systems, with mandates to offer education their residents in a fair manner. The Ivies and top LACs are private. They can pretty much do what they want, as long as it’s reasonable and ethical.</p>
<p>Btw, the moderators are reminding posters that race-related posts don’t belong on college forums.</p>
<p>For all you know, Affirmative Action may have just been helping you as well…so I don’t know what the purpose of putting that article was for. I’m sure the individuals who get into schools like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale can easily get into colleges like the University of California Berkeley, Los Angeles, or other UC schools. Besides, Private Universities aren’t bound to the same rules as Public ones, so I don’t know how much of an effect that will have. </p>
<p>Personally I wouldn’t want to go to a college where everyone looks exactly alike, that is not how the world is and shouldn’t be how college is either. I agree race shouldn’t be on these forums. Please find somewhere else to whine about how underprivileged you are. Thank you very much. With a smile on top. :)</p>
<p>Okay toughyear, after reading all your posts in other threads (which all seem to be very similar btw.) I realize that this is obviously a topic that bothers you greatly and I understand that. Yet there is a time and place. Remember that academics is not the only indicator of success in college, even more importantly is how you handle adversity; whether you complain about it or apply yourself to overcome it. In-fact you will find that the number one indicator of a success full Harvard admit, according to Dean Fitzsimmons, is the character of an applicant. </p>
<p>As he says “You want to get people who will make people better.” Your ranting doesn’t really do that. I’m sure this is similar in other universities.</p>