Affirmative Action as a Reaction in Higher Education
Author | : Garland Young |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 42 |
Release | : 2013 |
ISBN-10 | : OCLC:910882589 |
ISBN-13 | : |
Rating | : 4/5 (89 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: For decades, affirmative action has been an effective tool in righting the wrongs of past discrimination, increasing diversity, and providing opportunities to minorities that they otherwise would not have possessed. There are several different types of affirmative action, but race-based affirmative action in higher education has received substantial attention by the Supreme Court. In the past, certain individuals were denied admission to predominantly white institutions of higher education due to their race or skin color. Over the years, affirmative action programs have improved the number of minorities at predominantly white colleges and universities and have increased diversity. Opponents of affirmative action have continually questioned the fairness and constitutionality of these programs. As a result, the Court has minimized the scope of race-based affirmative action by deeming quotas and other programs unconstitutional. The future of affirmative action is uncertain and the Supreme Court will determine its future by the end of June 2013 when the justices decide Fisher v. University of Texas. Institutions of higher education must be able to use race as a factor in their admissions process to increase minority attendance, diversity, and right the wrongs of past discrimination. The complete removal of affirmative action will result in the decline of minority attendance at institutions of higher education. It is a necessary tool to right past wrongs due to the nation's extensive history of slavery, racism, segregation, and discrimination. ...