Supreme Court rules on U of Michigan AA case
The Supreme court ruled against the Undergrad program of AA at U of M, in which 20 pts are added to the application “scores” of 3 minority groups (Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans) but let stand the Law school system, which takes race into account, but not on a numerical basis by adding points.
This has been a common topic in the forum, but the new SCotUS decision gives some interesting food for thought.
- How is “making race one factor”, as in the law school, actually different from adding points to the applications of minority studients? According to the cite, above, the Law School actually seems to be promoting a quota system, which the SCotUS has already ruled to be unconstitional:
But this obviously wasn’t enough of an issue to get a majority to rule against the case. Maybe it’s just the scientist in me, but adding points seems to be a clean, simple way of ensuring a “diverse” student body, if that is the goal. And it’s essentially no different than using some qualitative criteria. (I’m personally opposed to both methods, but I don’t really see the difference.)
- Would the SCotUS decision have been different if the u-grad system used, say, 5 pts (out of a total 150) for minority students instead of 20?
Thoughts about what this new decision means?