The Death of Affirmative Action, Part 1

The Chronicle of Higher Education
March 15, 2012, 9:35 am

By Michele Goodwin

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear Fisher v. University of Texas, a case brought by a young woman who claims that she was discriminated against in the Texas undergraduate admissions process. Many commentators on the left and right assume that Fisher marks the death of affirmative action. Justice Kagan recused herself; she was US Solicitor General and filed a brief when the case was before the Fifth Circuit. However, few commentators consider who benefits from the platform and whether or not (and for whom) it achieves its goals. For example, some blacks think affirmative action was only about them. On the other hand white women may not recognize the entitlements they’ve gained due to affirmative action. In part, the dialogue about affirmative action misses much.

Full Story: http://chronicle.com/blogs/brainstorm/the-death-of-affirmative-action-part-i/44860

The Death of Affirmative Action, Part 2: Education as a Finite Resource

The Chronicle of Higher Education
March 21, 2012, 2:47 pm

By Michele Goodwin

Part 1 of this series addressed gender and the Fisher case, which will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court later in the year.

According to the CIA, Cuba’s literacy rate is 99.8%. Why does Cuba, an incredibly poor nation, have a higher literacy rate than the U.S.? Education is regarded as a priority for all; their poorest youth are treated to boarding schools. The same is true in China. Some of the most attractive architecture in China happens to be its boarding schools—and those institutions are public. That’s right—free boarding-school education and dormitories for students.

Full Story: http://chronicle.com/blogs/brainstorm/the-death-of-affirmative-action-part-ii-education-as-a-finite-resource-the-us-model/45046?sid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en