Imagine you’re a high school senior putting in countless hours writing college applications.
Later you discover your dream school rejected you not because your grades and SAT scores were too low, but because other equally qualified students who are underrepresented minorities got the seat instead.
Most universities want a “diverse” student body and because of that they may consider race as one of the factors in their admission process. Thus skin color could be a deciding factor as to whether or not you are accepted into that school.
Applicants should not be judged on race, or ethnicity, but rather what you bring to the table as an individual. Students should be accepted based on their work and whether they have the discipline to obtain their degrees.
A case was recently brought upon the US Supreme Court.
Abigail Fisher, now 22, is suing the University of Texas. Fisher was denied admission to the university in 2008. She alleges that she was discriminated against because she is white.
After losing in a lower court she appealed. The Supreme Court is expected to rule her case in spring 2013.
The Fisher v. University of Texas decision may overrule Grutter v. University of Michigan (2003); which stated race could play a role in admissions in public universities. If the court does overrule Grutter v. University of Michigan, affirmative action will most likely end for public universities across the United States.
Fisher claims she worked very hard so she could earn the grades to attend the University of Texas. Her father, sister, and other family members graduated from University of Texas, motivating her to go there as well.
Being a resident of Texas could have given her an advantage because the school takes the top 10 percent of each high school. Although she did not qualify in that regard, she still could have been admitted due to her other academic achievements.
Fisher’s attorney says she had a better academic record than students from minority groups who were admitted.
Creating a diverse university student body should not be influenced by race. It should be about your uniqueness as a person.
Although some may say race is a defining factor in whom you are, it should not determine whether you are admitted to a university or not.
Everyone should have the same opportunity to get into the university of their choice, but with admission committees considering race there is no equality.
We call upon the United States Supreme Court to overrule the Fisher v. University of Texas case to eliminate race as a factor in college admissions.
And if it should fail to do so, we urge public universities to take this step as their own initative. Justice demands no less.
