Students
torn over affirmative action
By Nyshicka Jordan
Staff Reporter
It is a difficult reality not knowing whether merit
or race was the reason she was denied acceptance and
placed on the wait list into the University of Michigans
law school, senior English and political science major
Jenny Specht said Wednesday.
The
Supreme Court heard opening arguments Tuesday regarding
whether Michigans affirmative action policies
are unconstitutional. Their decision is expected in
July.
Specht
is white and said because of the controversy over the
universities policy that rewards minority applicants
with extra points in admissions she is skeptical about
why she was not accepted.
I
wish that I knew that they turned me down solely on
my merits, Specht said.
Specht
said this was a difficult time to apply to Michigan
because its affirmative action policies are getting
so much attention. She said Michigan has a compelling
argument on why it uses affirmative action, but that
the policy should be different.
Once
you have a college degree everyone does have a level
playing field, Specht said.
According
to an Associated Press article, the Bush administrations
top lawyer argued Tuesday in the Supreme Court that
Michigans policy is a thinly disguised quota.
However,
Justice Sandra Day OConnor, considered to be a
swing voter, questioned why race could not also be included
among the many choices that law schools decide on when
admitting students.
Specht
said she now plans to attend law school at Cornell University,
which claims to not have a racial point system. According
to the Complete Book of Law Schools, Cornell
has 25 percent minority enrollment compared to Michigans
23 percent.
Specht
said these statistics make her wonder why Michigan is
so much more aggressive in its policy.
Other
TCU students who plan to attend graduate and professional
schools are split when it comes to the use of affirmative
action in schools.
Jenna
Spain, a senior political science major, said affirmative
action is still needed, but not forever.
I
am all about diversity, and all things being equal,
Spain said. I dont think that you can necessarily
make a diverse community without some kind of intent
to do it.
Spain
said things are not yet equal for all groups, but this
is the first generation where there is more opportunity
for all. She said the next generation will then have
more opportunity for such things such as equal education
because of this generations advantages.
Rodney
Thomas, a sophomore religion major, agrees that affirmative
action is still needed, but that it should end at some
point. He said it is good the policy is not solely reliant
on race and that it is necessary to make up for disadvantages
such as educational inconsistencies.
Its
fair not because of race, but because people get points
for things such as being related to an alumni too,
Thomas said. Its a complicated point system.
Its not just if youre black or white, its
a lot more to it.
However,
Nick James, a sophomore political science major, disagrees
with the policy.
I
agree with affirmative action if you use it appropriately,
James said. But if you use it in the way it has
been used in our society then I think that it is unconstitutional.
James
said if the Supreme Court rules against the current
policy students would then get into schools based on
their achievements instead of the color of their skin.
n.d.jordan@tcu.edu
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