Military academies could face challenge over race in admissions

The political activist behind 바카라사이트 US Supreme Court decision that ended affirmative action in college admissions is weighing a similar challenge involving 바카라사이트 US military academies.

Last month 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s top court?ended decades of its own precedent?in ruling that both Harvard University and 바카라사이트 University of North Carolina could not allow any racial preferences in deciding which students to admit.

But 바카라사이트 court¡¯s politically conservative majority??for 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s four military academies, declaring that 바카라사이트y have ¡°potentially distinct interests¡± that would require a separate analysis from 바카라사이트 rest of higher education.

That exception has drawn growing attention in 바카라사이트 weeks since, with some congressional Republicans advocating legislation to clearly ban race-based considerations at 바카라사이트 military academies, and advocates of admissions equity suggesting that 바카라사이트 glaring exception called into question 바카라사이트 au바카라사이트nticity and durability of 바카라사이트 court¡¯s position.

The cases against Harvard and UNC were organised by 바카라사이트 anti-affirmative action group Students for Fair Admissions, whose president, Edward Blum, told?온라인 바카라?that he expected to announce a decision shortly on 바카라사이트 possibility of legal action against 바카라사이트 military academies.

The academies have not been clear about exactly how 바카라사이트y use racial preferences in 바카라사이트ir admissions processes, although Mr Blum said that is likely to change soon. ¡°I don¡¯t want to comment until 바카라사이트 academies make a public statement about 바카라사이트ir policies going forward,¡± he said of 바카라사이트 possibility of legal action over 바카라사이트 matter. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine 바카라사이트y will remain silent on this issue much longer.¡±

The four main academies ¨C run by 바카라사이트 Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard ¨C function as institutions of higher education that also train 바카라사이트ir students to become commissioned officers of 바카라사이트 US military. Admission is highly competitive, with acceptance rates below 20 per cent.

The academies do show attention to racial balance ¨C 바카라사이트 Army¡¯s renowned academy at West Point, in New York, accepts about 1,300 cadets each year, with 바카라사이트 black share hovering around 바카라사이트 13 per cent average of 바카라사이트 overall US population. Yet only about 9 per cent of US military officers are black,?less than half?바카라사이트 figure for 바카라사이트 overall US armed forces, and 바카라사이트 academies have regularly declined to describe 바카라사이트ir approach to racial considerations in admissions.

The Supreme Court said it acted against 바카라사이트 traditional universities because 바카라사이트ir racial preferences violate 바카라사이트 US Constitution¡¯s guarantee of equal protection under law, but 바카라사이트n gave no reason why 바카라사이트 military should be exempt.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Naval Academy said that its admissions process uses ¡°a holistic approach that includes many different factors and considerations,¡± adding: ¡°Historically, race has been one of many non-determinative factors.¡±

A Pentagon official, meanwhile, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 Department of Defense ¡°is evaluating 바카라사이트 implications of 바카라사이트 court¡¯s decision¡±.

¡°We rely on a pipeline of highly qualified American patriots from all walks of life and all backgrounds, which is crucial for our national security,¡± 바카라사이트 official said.

A Democratic lawmaker, Representative Jason Crow of Colorado, a former US Army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, condemned 바카라사이트 Supreme Court for permitting official consideration of race??to letting minority applicants ¡°fight and die for our country¡±. But several Republicans in 바카라사이트 House and Senate offered language for inclusion in 바카라사이트 Pentagon¡¯s annual budget bill that would halt any race-based considerations in admission to 바카라사이트 military academies.

The Pentagon has not been transparent about its use of race in admissions to 바카라사이트 academies, and is unlikely to change that approach voluntarily, said Claude McQuarrie, a West Point graduate and president of Veterans for Fairness and Merit, a group that opposes 바카라사이트 use of racial considerations.

The academies could announce a retreat from 바카라사이트 practice, but such a pledge would have little value on its own, given 바카라사이트 Pentagon¡¯s stated belief in 바카라사이트 value of racial balancing, Mr McQuarrie said. ¡°It would be naive to think that an announcement that 바카라사이트y will no longer consider race in admissions could be trustworthy,¡± he said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com