Affirmative Action Case Won't Affect Tech Admissions
By: Michaela MacDonald
Updated: October 10, 2012
"Well I mean there is a lot of diversity but I don't know if that's due to the schools admission policies rather than students earning it," said Laef Pendergraft.
Pendergraft is a junior at Texas Tech. He doesn't believe affirmative action has a place in college admissions.
He said, "It doesn't seem like it should be part of it at all, to me just because college is based on merit and how hard you want to work, rather than what you can be given."
This is exactly the argument being made at the Supreme Court today. Abigail Fisher, a Texan who is white, sued the University of Texas saying she didn't get in partially based on her race.
Ethan Logan, a managing director at Tech admissions said, "I think its probably a concept of capacity for the University of Texas. They are a highly desired, desirable entry institution."
He says Texas Tech doesn't run into this issue because they simply don't turn as many students away.
He said, "Whereas they have a capacity limit we are not really constrained by a capacity for enrollment."
75% of UT enrollees are accepted based in the race neutral Texas 10% Rule. Constitutional law Professor Arnold Loewy says some argue that system is enough to ensure diversity.
Loewy said, "The court took the case maybe to say enough is enough particularly taking this case because Texas already has a method of, by taking the 10 % rule, ensuring of some level of diversity."
On campus opinions are mixed but some students are hoping for even more diversity.
"I think we are doing a good job of you know, raising awareness and trying to get more diversity in but we could do a lot better," said Texas Tech junior Valerie Buckley.


