Affirmative Action

Question 1

what is affirmative action?

Answer 1

-intentional steps taken by a government or organization to increase representation of groups that have been historically excluded or marginalized

Question 2

what are the misconceptions about affirmative action?

Answer 2

-many people believe that AA is about racial quotas and reverse discrimination
-many people mistakenly believe that race-blind admissions are fair

Question 3

what are the beneficiaries of AA?

Answer 3

-white women have benefited more than any other group
-black and latine americans are still underrepresented in admissions and graduation rates

Question 4

college admissions decisions are commonly based on what?

Answer 4

-GPA
-standardized test scores
-location of hometown/HS
-legacy status (are parents alumni?
- relationship to donors
-athlete status
-whether you contribute to campus diversity?

Question 5

what is regents of the UC v. Bakke?

Answer 5

SCOTUS ruled that a university’s use of racial quotas in its admissions process was unconstitutional, but a school’s use of AA to accept more minority applicants was constitutional in some circumstances

Question 6

what is grutter v Bollinger?

Answer 6

SCOTUS ruled that race-conscious admissions are constitutional because they help colleges attain the educational benefits of having a racially diverse campus

Question 7

what is Gratz. v Bollinger?

Answer 7

ruled that using ‘bonus points’ in admissions point system is illegal