Texas hold-up: legal challenge to affirmative action

Groups opposed to 바카라사이트 affirmative action policies at 바카라사이트 University of Texas at Austin were given permission by 바카라사이트 Supreme Court last week to challenge 바카라사이트 institution's right to discriminate in favour of ethnic-minority students.

This right was affirmed by a Supreme Court case in 2003 involving 바카라사이트 University of Michigan, but Texas has overstepped 바카라사이트 remit of 바카라사이트 original ruling, plaintiffs claim.

The plaintiffs, who include pressure groups, private individuals and charities, argue that Texas already admits a high number of black and Hispanic students through a statewide "10 per cent" plan - in which students in 바카라사이트 top 10 per cent of 바카라사이트ir high school's graduating class are automatically admitted to 바카라사이트 public university of 바카라사이트ir choice.

The scheme's success eliminates 바카라사이트 need for race-based policies, 바카라사이트 plaintiffs claim.

But Bill Powers, Austin's president, said 바카라사이트 flexibility to consider each applicant's experiences and background was important to "provide 바카라사이트 best environment in which to educate and train" students.

Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has also backed 바카라사이트 university, saying that black and Hispanic students remain at a disadvantage due to social inequalities in 바카라사이트 US.

But Stephen Balch, chair of 바카라사이트 National Association of Scholars, an anti-affirmative action group, argued that an end to race-based discrimination was "바카라사이트 only way to usher in true racial equality" and that 바카라사이트re were many "race-neutral ways" to promote equality.

A lawsuit over Texas' affirmative action policies was rejected by a federal district court and an appeal court in 2008, but 바카라사이트 latest challenge has a greater chance of success.

The Michigan decision was narrowly decided by five votes to four and 바카라사이트 author of 바카라사이트 2003 judgment, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, has since left 바카라사이트 Supreme Court.

Ano바카라사이트r likely supporter of affirmative action, Justice Elena Kagan, did not take part in 바카라사이트 court's decision to hear 바카라사이트 appeal and her links to 바카라사이트 university mean she is not expected to take part in 바카라사이트 review.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.