Talk Elections

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/us/justices-to-hear-case-on-affirmative-action-in-higher-education.html?_r=1

The court’s decision in the new case holds the potential to undo an accommodation reached in the Supreme Court’s 5-to-4 decision in 2003 in Grutter v. Bollinger: that public colleges and universities could not use a point system to boost minority enrollment but could take race into account in vaguer way to ensure academic diversity.


Well, soon to be overruled 5-3.

Lower court opinion.

http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/09/09-50822-CV0.wpd.pdf

The SCrt already feels differently when it comes to quotos as oppose to separate but equal, they aren't the same.

Good. I hope they overturn Grutter.

When do arguments begin, and how soon can we expect a ruling on this case?   

Don't wanna word it this harshly, but this. AA is noble in nature, but is essentially reverse discrimination.

Of course they'll only ban affirmative action based on race. Affirmative action for athletes and the children of alumni/celebrities/politicians will remain in place.

Why is there not more discussion on this?  Or does everyone just assume it is a foregone conclusion that the Supreme Court will do away with -once and for all- racial and ethnic preferences in college admissions? 

I can understand arguments in principle both for and against affirmative action in college admissions, but I really don't get how opposition to it can really be such an important thing for people. I mean, it's not like America's elite universities aren't still lily white, and it's not like any of you are getting your applications rejected in favor of a black guy. Where's this passion against it coming from?

The legacy issue is an important one, IMO.  Are the legacies now ethnically balanced?

People have sued because blacks/hispanics have gotten in with lower grades and SAT scores while they were rejected. Although whites don't get hit that bad by it; it's Asians who really get screwed by it.

This

Affirmative action still has a place in America.  I have black friends who tell me that when they go to an interview and the interviewer realizes they're black, they are sometimes in a state of shock and really uncomfortable (and when that happens the interview doesn't last more than 10 minutes and they never hear back from the company).  On the other hand, the way the system is abused by people who have never faced discrimination in their life is ridiculous and causes a backlash towards people who are at no fault for any of that.

...but not until after this Latino applies to college. :P

(I don't even know if I'm serious or not)

Odds on Roberts declaring that affirmative action is "just a tax"?

Roberts is not going to be the swing vote on this case.  Look at his opinion in Parents Involved, he is not on the side of affirmative action.