Send US black students to ‘less-advanced schools’

Torn as ever over race, the Supreme Court on Wednesday weighed whether it’s time to end the use of race in college admissions nationwide or at least at the University of Texas.

Some of the court’s conservatives voiced skepticism about the success of affirmative action and its long-term value.

In the intervening years, however, the Supreme Court has become more conservative and less friendly to affirmative action policies. It was brought by a student recruited by activist Edward Blum, an opponent of racial preferences.

Fisher argues the 14th Amendment’s the Equal Protection Clause prohibits the school from considering race in any manner as part of the admissions process. He said, “They’re being pushed into schools that are too advanced for them”. It’s better for them to attend “a slower-track school where they do well”. Fisher did not land in the top 10 percent of her high school class, so she is suing on the basis of the admissions program that admits the remainder of the university’s student body. “What unique perspective does a minority student bring to a physics class?” he asked.

Outside the white marble courthouse, demonstrators on both sides of the issue staged protests.

Reverend Al Sharpton, who attended the oral arguments, told reporters that he was concerned by Scalia’s comments.

Greg Garre, the lawyer for the university, faced tough questions not just on the specific program but on the future of affirmative action altogether.

While a lot of people are criticizing him over the aforementioned remarks, others pointed out he simply referred to a theory which is, co-incidentally, as controversial as Scalia himself. That program does not directly consider race. During arguments, Kennedy – often the court’s swing vote – raised the possibility that more evidence could be gained by sending the case back to the trial court for “additional fact-finding”.

A University of MI student protests a ban on affirmative action.

The challengers are contesting only UT’s unusual program.

“I don’t think it stands to reason that it’s a good thing for the University of Texas to admit as many blacks as possible”, he added. It also, according to some, mistakes academic struggling in minority students for a lack of academic ability.

But Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who has said she benefited from affirmative action, said Rein was calling on Texas to take steps that would “reduce its educational quality”. That is the “10 percent plan”, under which those in the top 10 percent of students at Texas high schools are assured admission to the public college or university of their choice.

“It’s a shame somebody of that stature and that educated would say something that’s more from the script of an “Archie Bunker” episode”, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) said Wednesday night. For one, there is the question of Fisher’s standing because she has already graduated from another college, which Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg touched on.

Remember that time Justice Antonin Scalia said something reactionary and/or bigoted?

University of Texas-Austin President Gregory Fenves addresses the media outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., December 9, 2015. Fisher contends that she would have made the cut if 100 percent of the class had been admitted under the “top 10” rule, a contention the university denies.

“I don’t believe students should be treated differently due to their race”, Fisher said on Wednesday.