Summary: The current "race-conscious" college admission policy remains, post SC oral arguments, in a very weak position. We are in good shape.
Don't relax though. It's a long time between now and next June, when the SC will announce its decision. Be vigilant. Forward this e-newsletter to your friends.
Encouraging Developments
(1) Thinking liberals are
"Rethinking Affirmative Action"!
See an article, of the SAME title, by David Leonhardt who is the Washington bureau chief of The New York Times. Click on http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/sunday-review/rethinking- affirmative-action.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&hp&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1350208893-/sD9Q35HoX2H9zC6PEQa%20g&pagewanted=all
This article, written post SC oral arguments, begins with:
"The founding principle of affirmative action was fairness."
Well said!
The author then goes on to describe how the university community has over the years redirected AA to mean diversity. He points out that although Americans like diversity, we like fairness more. The university community has let "diversity trump fairness." Therefore, it may be time to rethink AA.
He gave a superb illustration of how the Supreme Court Justices were upset by "diversity has trumped fairness."
"In court on Wednesday, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. attacked the political underbelly of this system. The University of Texas argued that diversity within racial groups was also important, citing "the African-American or Hispanic child of successful professionals in Dallas." Skeptically, Justice Alito asked the university's lawyer, "They deserve a leg up against, let's say, an Asian or a white applicant whose parents are absolutely average?"
"Justice Kennedy followed up by telling the lawyer, in one of the most quoted lines of the day, "So what you're saying is that what counts is race above all."
Need I say more?
(2) Will the Asian Am organizations like AACJ, AALDEF, APALC begin to rethink?
AACJ even tried to organize a demonstration before the Supreme Court to support "race-conscious" admission. See a video below.
Video from outside the US Supreme Court
Michelle Fields, a political journalist, was outside the US Supreme Court during the Fisher arguments today and asked supporters of affirmative action some pointed questions, you might be surprised by their responses in this must-watch video: http://michellefields.com/2012/10/10/affirmative-action-supporters-rally-outside-of-supreme-court/
Did you chuckle? Did you then shake you head?
Seriously, now, our nation needs a FAIR college admission that'll help qualified students of ALL races who for one reason or another can't get into manageably challenging schools. The current "race-conscious" admission will NOT cut it. It is, if anything, wasting many of the best African and Hispanics students in STEM & law fields and is particularly unfair to Asian Am students. It should be replaced!
Post your comments at: http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp.
Sincerely,
S. B. Woo, a volunteer,
President, 80-20 National Asian Am. Educational Foundation, Inc.
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/
Encouraging Developments
(1) Thinking liberals are
"Rethinking Affirmative Action"!
See an article, of the SAME title, by David Leonhardt who is the Washington bureau chief of The New York Times. Click on http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/sunday-review/rethinking- affirmative-action.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&hp&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1350208893-/sD9Q35HoX2H9zC6PEQa%20g&pagewanted=all
This article, written post SC oral arguments, begins with:
"The founding principle of affirmative action was fairness."
Well said!
The author then goes on to describe how the university community has over the years redirected AA to mean diversity. He points out that although Americans like diversity, we like fairness more. The university community has let "diversity trump fairness." Therefore, it may be time to rethink AA.
He gave a superb illustration of how the Supreme Court Justices were upset by "diversity has trumped fairness."
"In court on Wednesday, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. attacked the political underbelly of this system. The University of Texas argued that diversity within racial groups was also important, citing "the African-American or Hispanic child of successful professionals in Dallas." Skeptically, Justice Alito asked the university's lawyer, "They deserve a leg up against, let's say, an Asian or a white applicant whose parents are absolutely average?"
"Justice Kennedy followed up by telling the lawyer, in one of the most quoted lines of the day, "So what you're saying is that what counts is race above all."
Need I say more?
(2) Will the Asian Am organizations like AACJ, AALDEF, APALC begin to rethink?
AACJ even tried to organize a demonstration before the Supreme Court to support "race-conscious" admission. See a video below.
Video from outside the US Supreme Court
Michelle Fields, a political journalist, was outside the US Supreme Court during the Fisher arguments today and asked supporters of affirmative action some pointed questions, you might be surprised by their responses in this must-watch video: http://michellefields.com/2012/10/10/affirmative-action-supporters-rally-outside-of-supreme-court/
Did you chuckle? Did you then shake you head?
Seriously, now, our nation needs a FAIR college admission that'll help qualified students of ALL races who for one reason or another can't get into manageably challenging schools. The current "race-conscious" admission will NOT cut it. It is, if anything, wasting many of the best African and Hispanics students in STEM & law fields and is particularly unfair to Asian Am students. It should be replaced!
Post your comments at: http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp.
Sincerely,
S. B. Woo, a volunteer,
President, 80-20 National Asian Am. Educational Foundation, Inc.
http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/
