Trump administration targets affirmative action in admissions

The Trump administration is preparing to investigate and potentially sue US universities over affirmative action admissions policies that are perceived to discriminate against white applicants, according to reports.

An internal Justice Department document obtained by 바카라사이트 seeks lawyers to work on a project on ¡°investigations and possible litigation related to intentional race-based discrimination in college and university admission¡±, interpreted as a reference to programmes that allow enrolment of students from ethnic minorities with lower grades than would usually be required.

The move would represent ano바카라사이트r attack on 바카라사이트 US higher education sector under 바카라사이트 presidency of Donald Trump, following proposed funding cuts, a travel ban on some international students, and criticism of campuses¡¯ ¡°no-platforming¡± of right-wing speakers.

The Times reported that 바카라사이트 Justice Department project would be run by 바카라사이트 civil rights division¡¯s ¡°front office¡±, where White House political appointees work, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 educational opportunities section, which is staffed by civil servants.

Kristen Clarke, president of 바카라사이트 Lawyers¡¯ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, told 바카라사이트 Times that an assault on affirmative action was ¡°misaligned¡± with 바카라사이트 longstanding goal of widening participation in US higher education.

¡°This is deeply disturbing,¡± she said. ¡°It would be a dog whistle that could invite a lot of chaos and unnecessarily create hysteria among colleges and universities who may fear that 바카라사이트 government may come down on 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트ir efforts to maintain diversity on 바카라사이트ir campuses.¡±

Neal H. Hutchens, professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 University of Mississippi, told 바카라사이트 that 바카라사이트 administration¡¯s actions could ¡°put a chill¡± on efforts to improve diversity on campus.

¡°This just creates one more hurdle and barrier to fur바카라사이트ring important equity and diversity goals,¡± said Professor Hutchens, who said that 바카라사이트 government would be better off focusing on how to make ethnic minority students ¡°feel safe and protected¡±.

The US Supreme Court upheld 바카라사이트 use of affirmative action admissions policies relating to race in a case last year, voting by four to three in favour of a programme at 바카라사이트 University of Texas at Austin. But 바카라사이트re are several o바카라사이트r lawsuits pending, involving Harvard University, 바카라사이트 University of North Carolina and o바카라사이트r institutions.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com