The United States supreme court has finally made a ruling on Thursday regarding the Fisher vs. University of Texas case. The decision was that the school may continue to consider race as a factor in admission of their students. The school president recently made a statement regarding the decision.
The New York Times reported that the supporters welcomes the decision. This will become the new standard in student admission process, but according to Roger Clegg, president for Center of Equal Opportunity, said the even though the supreme court's decision is disappointing, this is set back is only temporary.
We recall the Fisher case began in 2008 when plaintiffs Abigail Noel Fisher and Rachel Multer Michaelwicz were denied of admission to the University of Texas when they applied. These two women both of white rare, filed a suit with an allegation that the University had discriminated them because of their race.
In the university's defense, the school accepts students who are top 10% of their high school graduating class, regardless of race. However, applicant like Fisher can still get admission if they can score high on the evaluations that school will be giving them. This evaluation could be in terms of their talents, family circumstance, leadership qualities and race. In Fisher's case, her grade point average was 3.59 was top 12% of her class, at Stephen F. Austin High School.
Fisher has other talents, being involved in the orchestra, a volunteer at Habitat for Humanity and also in math competitions. She scored 1180 on her SAT.
The unexpected decision was voted 4-to-3 ratio. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy authored the majority decision. He has been skeptical all along of race sensitive programs. He had never voted to the upholding of an affirmative action plan. During the last major affirmative action case, he dissented.
The University of Texas school president has issued a statement regarding the Supreme Court's decision on the Fisher Case. It was posted on their website.
