Racial Discrimination in College Admissions: The Case of Allan Bakke

When submitting a college application, various criteria are taken into account, including academic performance, participation in the community, and criminal history. Often, candidates for esteemed universities face similar inquiries. Nevertheless, during an interview process, ethnicity is typically not discussed; instead, applicants are provided with a form where they can indicate their racial background.

While it is important to recognize that not all cases of racial or ethnic discrimination are identical, there has been a consistent presence of such discrimination in college admissions for an extended period.

The case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke involved Allan Bakke, a 35-year-old man who was denied admission to the University of California Medical School at Davis on two occasions. The school's reasoning for rejecting him was that they allocated sixteen spots out of a total of one hundred exclusively for "qualified" minorities, as mandated by affirmative action laws. As Bakke is white and does not belong to any minority group, he did not meet the criteria for any of those reserved sixteen spots.

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Mr. Bakke, an individual aiming to tackle enduring disparities in the medical field, faced rejection despite surpassing the necessary qualifications for admission to a program. He proceeded to take legal action, beginning with a California court and eventually escalating it to the Supreme Court. Bakke contended that his university rejection was founded on his ethnic background.

The University of California is being investigated for potential violations of the equal protection clause in the 14th Amendment and/or the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

This relates to their denial of admission to Allan Bakke based solely on his race. Furthermore, there is a debate about whether implementing affirmative action would still be considered a violation if they were adhering to a new law aimed at fostering diversity among minority groups already enrolled in the university.

Additionally, it is important to consider that they had a scarcity of resources and aimed to ensure equal opportunities for all applicants. This is the purpose behind reserving sixteen spots out of one hundred for minority applicants, a step taken to maintain statistical equilibrium.

In the Bakke case, there were five votes in favor of Bakke and four votes against him, resulting in his ultimate victory. However, despite this outcome, colleges continued to deny admission to individuals based on their race. This situation parallels the experience of Asians who currently face a significant barrier when attempting to gain admission into top-tier educational institutions.

Some Asians believe that they are facing unfair treatment and disadvantages compared to most Americans. Is this similar to how Allan Bakke felt? Did Bakke also perceive an unfair standard imposed on him in order to be accepted into his desired school? I am of the opinion that both Asians and Bakke have endured similar trials that they must overcome.

Asian-Americans are feeling disadvantaged by the Board of Regents' new undergraduate admissions policy, which aims to enhance diversity in the applicant pool. However, this policy has received criticism, particularly from Asian-Americans. It is important to note that the new policy does not explicitly exclude Asians from admission. Instead, it grants colleges and universities more flexibility in their selection process for admitting students.

As the media tries to understand a new idea, an increasing number of Asians are voicing their grievances through angry phone calls and letters. These complaints originate from both Asian students and other students. Although this policy differs from affirmative action, many people struggle to distinguish between them. An examination by a college insider supports the perspective of Asian-American students, suggesting that this recent policy could lead to a decrease in the number of Asian students.

Parents of Asian students are also expressing their frustration with the new policy, feeling that they were not given proper notice and viewing it as an act of discrimination. This situation can be compared to the case of Board of Regents v. Bakke, where discrimination was evident as the university denied admission to a Caucasian male in order to reserve sixteen spots for minorities. At that time, it was considered fair as minorities had fewer opportunities compared to whites. Personally, I would have deemed this socially acceptable if I had been present during that period.

Despite Mr. Allan Bakke's impressive academic performance, the college rejected his application on two occasions. In contemporary United States society, equal rights and opportunities are expected for all individuals. Nevertheless, it is deemed discriminatory to deny someone admission solely based on their race, which can lead to legal repercussions. If we diligently strive and fulfill the necessary criteria for a desired job or educational institution, we should be granted the opportunity to pursue them.

However, I understand that certain colleges might aim for more diversity by observing the racial composition of the campus population. While this is understandable, if an individual meets the required criteria, they should be accepted. It is unfair for a college or university to reject someone based on their race to prioritize admitting an African-American student with straight A grades over another Asian student with straight A grades, especially when there are already many individuals from that heritage enrolled.

In order to avoid legal actions, colleges may consider diversifying their campus. If the media reports an excessive number of white students at a college or university led by a white person, it may appear suspicious and racist. However, if these institutions begin admitting more minority students, adding diversity to the campus environment, they become more attractive to applicants seeking a diverse dream school.

Additionally, presenting statistical data on racial diversity can greatly bolster a school's case in discrimination lawsuits. For instance, if a pie chart illustrates that 75% of the chart is labeled as green, representing the white population, it could unfavorably reflect on the school and potentially convince a jury of possible discrimination. Conversely, if the chart portrays near equal representation of minorities and whites, it would work in favor of the school, making their argument more persuasive.

The ongoing nature of debacles similar to this one is likely to continue for years because diversity is essential in public spaces. In its absence, the situation could resemble the Civil Rights era, and we certainly do not need more violent protests like the ones we witness today. Personally, I both agree and disagree with the Regents v. Bakke ruling. On one hand, I believe Bakke should have been accepted. On the other hand, if he had been aware of the unfair treatment after the initial rejection, he should have taken legal action sooner. However, it is important to acknowledge that accusations of speculation can result in the dismissal of a case.

I agree with the Board’s idea of promoting campus diversity, as it provides minority individuals with opportunities they previously lacked compared to white men and women. This integration allows them to realize that everyone is the same, with two legs and a beating heart, and they can coexist peacefully. The Board's decision to eliminate the idea of reserving sixteen spots signifies the beginning of a significant movement toward desegregation and ultimately, diversity in public spaces.

Despite it being unfortunate that even in modern times we still have to experience such situations, it is comprehensible when the media examines individuals for minor matters, and does so in an even harsher manner towards bigger organizations, corporations, colleges, universities, and so on. Nonetheless, I maintain that the Board's decision to implement such a policy was not a deliberate attempt to exclude Asians from their schools. Instead, I believe they did so with the intention of fostering more diversity in an environment predominantly occupied by a single racial group.

If this is the situation, it is important for everyone to acknowledge that there will always be a majority and a desire for change within that majority. To achieve balance and avoid media interference, it is crucial to include minorities. By doing so, it allows students seeking significant diversity to view the school as their ideal choice.

If a high school graduate who is African-American chooses to apply to an all-African-American school and is rejected despite having exceptional grades and extracurricular activities, would this be regarded as discrimination? I question whether anyone would attempt to challenge this decision or simply perceive it as the student not meeting the school's criteria. The case would not hold because the student met the requirements but was not admitted to the institution.

In summary, Bakke v. Regents is comparable to the low likelihood of Asians being accepted into colleges and universities based on their race. Nevertheless, in Bakke v. Regents, the Board aimed to establish equal opportunities for minorities, whereas the scenario of the Board seeking a new policy to allow more flexibility in college admissions appears to be a form of discrimination. Both cases involve discrimination, but is there such a thing as acceptable discrimination?

There is a valid argument for discrimination in promoting diversity, but as "the land of the free," we should not yield to it. Despite the progress made since the Civil Rights movement and overcoming widespread racism, we should not impose policies that make certain groups feel insecure about their educational opportunities.

The article "Asian Americans sue University of California System over Holistic Admissions sham - College Confidential" on College Confidential's website, dated April 4, 2009, is cited in the Works Cited. It can be accessed on the web as of May 15, 2013. Author Daniel Golden also wrote an article with the same title on College Confidential. This article was published on February 2, 2012 and can also be accessed on the web as of May 15, 2013. The case "Regents of the University of California v. Bakke" is mentioned in the Works Cited without a specific date but can be accessed on the web as of May 15, 2013.

"Regents of the University of California v. Bakke | The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law." The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law | A Multimedia Archive of the Supreme Court of the United States. N. p., n. d. Web. 15 May 2013.

SCHMIDT, PETER. "Asian-Americans Give U. of California an Unexpected Fight Over Admissions Policy - Students - The Chronicle of Higher Education." Home - The Chronicle of Higher Education. N. p., n.d.Web . 15 May 2013.

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