Justice Scalia Suggests Blacks Belong at "Slower" Colleges

ldent42

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/12/justice-scalia-suggests-blacks-belong-slower-colleges-fisher-university-texas

During oral arguments in a pivotal affirmative action case on Wednesday morning, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia raised the suggestion that African American students might belong at less rigorous schools than their white peers, and that perhaps the University of Texas should have fewer black students in its ranks.

Scalia's comments came during arguments in Fisher v. University of Texas, a case over whether the university's use of race in a sliver of its admissions decisions is constitutional. The University of Texas-Austin is being challenged over its use of race in admissions decisions for about 25 percent of its freshman class. About 75 percent of the students at UT-Austin are admitted through what's known as the Top Ten Percent program, in which any student graduating within the top 10 percent of his or her class is guaranteed admission, regardless of race. The other 25 percent are admitted via a "holistic" process that takes race, and other factors, into account. It's the "holistic" program that Abigail Fisher—who was denied admission for the university in 2008—is challenging.

The University of Texas has determined that if it excluded race as a factor, that remaining 25 percent would be almost entirely white. During the oral arguments, former US Solicitor General Greg Garre, who is representing the university, was explaining this to the justices. At that point, Scalia jumped in, questioning whether increasing the number of African Americans at the flagship university in Austin was in the black students' best interests. He said:

There are those who contend that it does not benefit African Americans to get them into the University of Texas, where they do not do well, as opposed to having them go to a less-advanced school, a slower-track school where they do well. One of the briefs pointed out that most of the black scientists in this country don't come from schools like the University of Texas. They come from lesser schools where they do not feel that they're being pushed ahead in classes that are too fast for them.

He went on to say, "I'm just not impressed by the fact the University of Texas may have fewer [blacks]. Maybe it ought to have fewer. I don't think it stands to reason that it's a good thing for the University of Texas to admit as many blacks as possible."

After a comment like this, Court watchers will really be looking forward to his opinion in the case.

Who Princess

Most of my co-workers are African American. You can probably imagine about how well Scalia's comments went over with them.

I've been told by parents of high school kids that it's very difficult to be accepted to UT. That surprised me since it's a state university but not having kids, I don't keep up with things like that. I was also surprised to read what a low percentage of students at UT are black.

Bentleyspop

Who Princess said:

Most of my co-workers are African American. You can probably imagine about how well Scalia's comments went over with them.

I've been told by parents of high school kids that it's very difficult to be accepted to UT. That surprised me since it's a state university but not having kids, I don't keep up with things like that. I was also surprised to read what a low percentage of students at UT are black.

Very hard, even for in state applicants, to get into Univ. Of California schools as well.

xhausted1

Competition for admittance is fierce at the state schools in CA. Lots of high achievers in CA.

PJfanwillneverleave1

So a guy like trump makes headlines around the world for scathing racist remarks.
This doesn't?
This justice scalia person got the job somehow.
Americans are a tough nut to crack.

rgambs

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

So a guy like trump makes headlines around the world for scathing racist remarks.
This doesn't?
This justice scalia person got the job somehow.
Americans are a tough nut to crack.

The operative word being "nut" lol

mickeyrat

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

So a guy like trump makes headlines around the world for scathing racist remarks.
This doesn't?
This justice scalia person got the job somehow.
Americans are a tough nut to crack.

Appointed by a Pres and confirmed by the senate. He didnt run for shit.

mickeyrat

Provides evidence that lifetime appointments need a serious looking at. Perhaps 20 ys if that.

brianlux

Damn it. I need new glasses. I'm not reading that article rightly. Surely can't be what I thought I read!!

ldent42

I've seen the argument that kids from low income backgrounds do better in non-ivy league schools. I can get that argument. Privileged kids can be assholes. I mean most people around that age are assholes, but there's an extra level of it that comes with ivy league school level privilege. That argument is a cultural one though, and I think, says more about the state of ivy league schools than anything else. The argument that Scalia is making here, is that maybe segregation wasn't so bad after all cuz those blacks would be better off at a slower paced school, rather than trying to keep up with the white kids at the University of Texas. I have to admit, I would love to see RBG just reach over and slap the stupid of this jerkface.

Halifax2TheMax

And some folks wonder why Trump leads in the polls? This is what the conservative base that controls and determines the primaries believes in. The chickens are coming home to roost.

tempo_n_groove

Halifax2TheMax said:

And some folks wonder why Trump leads in the polls? This is what the conservative base that controls and determines the primaries believes in. The chickens are coming home to roost.

Read the whole article, it's pretty interesting.

Halifax2TheMax

tempo_n_groove said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

And some folks wonder why Trump leads in the polls? This is what the conservative base that controls and determines the primaries believes in. The chickens are coming home to roost.

Read the whole article, it's pretty interesting.

And so?

tempo_n_groove

Halifax2TheMax said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

And some folks wonder why Trump leads in the polls? This is what the conservative base that controls and determines the primaries believes in. The chickens are coming home to roost.

Read the whole article, it's pretty interesting.

And so?

I read it. I'm curious if you did from the 5th circuit on up?

Halifax2TheMax

Sorry, are you referencing the Wikipedia link? If so, I'd take that with a grain of salt but I'll read it anyway. I haven't yet. I think you can read the case history on the supreme court's website which is the docs, briefs and minutes as admitted in court. Purer source of info IMHO. I'll check it though as court arguments can be fascinating and sometimes dry as a bone.

PJ_Soul

Anyone else kind of feel like we've all time traveled back to 1962 recently?

brianlux

PJ_Soul said:

Anyone else kind of feel like we've all time traveled back to 1962 recently?

Absolutely what I was thinking. Talk about "backsliding".

Some (not here, yet, but we'll see) are contesting that African Americans with lower SAT scores are being admitted to the higher level schools in order to maintain a racial diversity in them and that doing so is actually harmful to black minorities. Sounds like a logical argument, right?

Or is it? This is where critical thinking comes into play. Did any of these people take into consideration that lower SAT scores are often the result of these kids going to schools that don't provide the resources to help poor kids excel in school? Those scores often have more to do with economic disparity than with smarts. Isn't it interesting that these factors are often completely ignored?

Yes, this is sounding more like 1962 (or earlier) to me. I was only 11 in 1962 buts that's old enough to remember what the times were like. Yes, sorry to say it-- we have regressed.

Bentleyspop

PJ_Soul said:

Anyone else kind of feel like we've all time traveled back to 1962 recently?

I was thinking 1952

josevolution

Bentleyspop said:

PJ_Soul said:

Anyone else kind of feel like we've all time traveled back to 1962 recently?

I was thinking 1952

Yeah 50s for sure

tempo_n_groove

brianlux said:

PJ_Soul said:

Anyone else kind of feel like we've all time traveled back to 1962 recently?

Absolutely what I was thinking. Talk about "backsliding".

Some (not here, yet, but we'll see) are contesting that African Americans with lower SAT scores are being admitted to the higher level schools in order to maintain a racial diversity in them and that doing so is actually harmful to black minorities. Sounds like a logical argument, right?

Or is it? This is where critical thinking comes into play. Did any of these people take into consideration that lower SAT scores are often the result of these kids going to schools that don't provide the resources to help poor kids excel in school? Those scores often have more to do with economic disparity than with smarts. Isn't it interesting that these factors are often completely ignored?

Yes, this is sounding more like 1962 (or earlier) to me. I was only 11 in 1962 buts that's old enough to remember what the times were like. Yes, sorry to say it-- we have regressed.

It really does sound awful.

This case may also end Affirmative Action in colleges.

callen

The reason I fear Cruz and all other whack jobs on right. Supreme Court nominations.