Essay about Affirmative Action and Higher Education

Affirmative Action and Higher Education Two people stand in a room looking at a vibrant painting and receive a totally different image. This is something we all realize can happen. It is our different perspectives that make us valuable too each other. When trying to solve a problem or create a new idea, we need each other to bring forth considerations and concepts that would never occur otherwise. This concept is something most of us grasp in theory, yet it never ceases to confound and confuse us if someone draws a conclusion tangent from ours when presented with the same information. This situation lies at the heart of the argument over affirmative action. Policies that are viewed by some as righting past wrongs are viewed by†¦show more content†¦Having done so it would still need to be narrowly tailored so as not to unduly injure any associated groups or individuals. Powell determined that attaining a diverse student body in an institution of higher education was a compelling state interest. In order to be narro wly tailored to this interest, the institution should use race as a plus factor. The quota system that the University of California applied set aside positions for minority students and focused on having a diverse statistical surface rather than attaining actual diverse backgrounds. Rather, as was done at Harvard, it was expected that all students should be considered together and race used as a bonus for minorities that would help account for the special perspective such students could bring to the campus (Schauer 589-597). While Powells outline for programs had plenty of dissenters, none of them ever made it to a prominent position in the court system and so, since 1978, the rules of Bakke have been the proverbial law of the land. That is, until recently. In 1994, a new case, Hopwood v. The University of Texas, was ruled on by the circuit court and interpreted in such a manner as to effectively end affirmative action in higher education for the states of Texas and Louisiana. The plaintiffs for the case were four applicants to the law school of The University of Texas, each of whom were denied admission while minority applicants with lowerShow MoreRelatedIs Affirmative Action in Higher Education Outdated?783 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Is Affirmative Action in Higher Education Outdated? Affirmative action policies have been in place since 1957 (Rubio 144). Presidents Kennedy and Johnson signed executive orders in 1961 and 1964, respectively, requiring government agencies and their contractors to take affirmative steps to ensure minority participation. Johnsons order was modified two years later to include women. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discriminatory hiring, promotion, and retention practices in both the privateRead MoreRace Based Affirmative Action On Higher Education Essay1445 Words   |  6 PagesRace-Based Affirmative Action in Higher Education In 1961, President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 10925, which created the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity, or CEEO. One purpose of the CEEO was to â€Å"recommend additional affirmative steps which should be taken by executive departments and agencies to realize more fully the national policy of nondiscrimination† (Kennedy). This executive order planted the seeds that grew into what is today known as â€Å"race-based affirmative action,† or theRead MoreAffirmative Action and Higher Education Admissions Essay1664 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Known as one of the biggest obstacles in higher education to date would arguably be the use of affirmative action within the higher education admission process for both private and public institutions (Kaplin Lee, 2014; Wang Shulruf, 2012). The focus of current research is an attempt to either justify or deny the use of affirmative action within current practices through various higher education institutions, and though any one person could potentially be swayed to side withRead MoreEssay about Does Higher Education Need Affirmative Action?1934 Words   |  8 PagesDoes Higher Education Need Affirmative Action? Introduction Is affirmative action in higher education needed? This question provokes a myriad of emotions. Is affirmative action antiquated and unneeded in 21st century America? Or are the racial boundaries of this country’s ancestors still in effect? America’s Declaration of Independence states, â€Å"all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuitRead MoreDoes Affirmative Action Make Moral Sense?1084 Words   |  5 PagesDoes affirmative action make moral sense? A moral being is one capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct, but a big question that follows concerns the idea if there even is such a thing as â€Å"right conduct.† â€Å"Whatever can be proved to be good, must be so by being shown to be a means to something admitted to be good† (Mill 6). In John Stuart Mill’s book, â€Å"Utilitarianism,† he states this notion where an individual assumes good things are good without knowing why they’re good. Defined fromRead MoreAffirmative Action Is The Current Method For Combating Systematic Racism1602 Words   |  7 PagesAffirmative action is the current method for combatting the systematic racism and general bigotry that has long plagued American society. It is a source of much debate, both from the legal and moral perspectives. When it comes to higher education, it has been the subject of serval Supreme court decisions and many philosophical papers. Affirmative action’s stance makes a statement about how American society intends to handle its problems of bigotry; if it wants to ignore them, or if it wants to chooseRead MoreAffirmative Action in Universities728 Words   |  3 PagesAffirmative Action in University Admissions All across America, universities have been denying highly qualified applicants to accept minorities who are usually less qualified. These admissions processes misuse the basic principle of affirmative action. Affirmative action is a mandate that says that minorities should be given special opportunities. In 1952, when President D.W. Eisenhower was in office, he decided to let the states decide whether or not to use affirmative action (AffirmativeRead MoreAffirmative Action At The United States1634 Words   |  7 Pageswrong with you? Why, nothing. You have everything we are looking for, it’s just†¦you’re black†¦Ã¢â‚¬  First established in 1961, Affirmative action (in the United States) was/is a practice in which the purpose is to improve the employment or educational opportunities of members of minority groups and women (Merriam Webster). Fast forward to today’s society and what is affirmative action now? Considering the prevalence of div ersity in the workplace and in educational facilities, it should be of utmost importanceRead MoreThe State Of California Overturn Prop 2091731 Words   |  7 PagesTo: Social Workers, Higher Education Admissions to the State of California From: #34328759 Date: 11/25/2014 RE: Affirmative Action: A Win-Win for all Students in California Beyond Proposal: I propose that the state of California overturn Prop 209, which had previously removed race, religion, sex, color, ethnicity and national origin as consideration factors for admission to universities for undergraduate learning. Increasing additional students of color who enroll not only expands opportunitiesRead MoreIs Diversity Is The Great Issue Of Our Time ( Macdeo, 2000, P.1 ) Essay887 Words   |  4 Pagesidentities is prohibited in the Constitution. Despite the legal mandate, racism is evident in the society; racism has been a part of the society for five centuries and still exists in overt and covert forms. Despite positive developments in the higher education sector, underrepresented social groups are far behind than their counter parts White and Asian students. Among 18 to 24 years old student groups enrolled in college by 2004, the highest access was 60.3 per cent in Asian/Pacific Islander and 41