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US to Stop Urging Schools to Consider Race in Admissions

The Trump¹ administration announced last week that it would not urge schools to consider race in the admissions process.

The administration withdrew official guidance meant to increase student diversity at schools across the United States. That guidance was developed during the presidency² of Barack Obama.

The move gives schools and colleges the federal government’s permission to leave race out of admissions decisions. It is evidence of the politics that have long surrounded affirmative action policies. Those policies have repeatedly been at the center of cases heard by the U.S. Supreme³ Court.

The Obama administration guidance was among 24 policy documents withdrawn⁴ by the Justice Department for being “unnecessary, outdated,” or not meeting existing law. Attorney General Jeff Sessions described the changes as an effort to re-establish the “rule of law.”

Yet civil rights groups criticized the move and some university officials said they plan to continue their diversity efforts as before.

A changing court

The Supreme Court’s most recent decision on the subject approved of the use of race in the admission process. But Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote the court’s opinion, plans to retire at the end of July. This gives President Donald Trump a chance to appoint someone who may be more critical of admissions programs that take race and ethnicity into consideration.

The new policy is a big change from the thinking of the Obama administration, which had often said schools could consider race in admissions decisions to support diversity. In one 2011 document, the administration said courts had recognized schools’ “compelling interest” in supporting racially diverse populations.

“Institutions are not required to implement⁵ race-neutral approaches if, in their judgment⁶, the approaches would be unworkable,” the document said. It added that in some cases, such methods will be ineffective to creating the diversity the school seeks.

That guidance has now been withdrawn. So were similar documents, including some which tried to explain court rulings supporting the use of race in admissions decisions.

The Trump administration’s Justice Department had already expressed concern about the use of race in admissions decisions.

This year, it supported Asian-American claimants who said Harvard University unlawfully limits how many Asian students are admitted.

Harvard said it would continue considering race to create a “diverse campus community where students from all walks of life have the opportunity to learn with and from each other.”

Against years of decisions

Civil rights groups criticized the Trump administration’s move. They say it went against many years of court decisions permitting colleges to consider race for admissions.

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law released a statement from Kristen Clarke, its president and executive director.

It reads: “We condemn⁷ the Department of Education’s politically motivated attack on affirmative action and deliberate attempt to discourage colleges and universities from pursuing racial diversity at our nation’s colleges and universities.”

Lily Eskelsen García is president of the National Education Association. She said, “Affirmative action has proven to be one of the most effective ways to create diverse and inclusive classrooms.” She said the announcement signals the importance of Trump’s Supreme Court appointment.

The new affirmative action guidance may add to U.S. congressional debate over Justice Kennedy’s replacement⁸.

The Associated Press reports that Howard University law school dean Danielle Holley-Walker criticized the new guidance. She said it is another sign that the Justice Department is likely to target schools that do continue to use race in admissions decisions.

This is a clear attack on past legal decisions, Holley-Walker said, and that any Supreme Court nominee⁹ needs to be asked if they support past decisions on affirmative action.

I’m Phil Dierking.

Words in This Story

affirmative action - n. the practice of improving the educational and job opportunities of members of groups that have not been treated fairly in the past because of their race, sex, etc.?

approach - n. a way of dealing¹⁰ with something?

discourage - v. to make (someone) less determined¹¹, hopeful, or confident?

diversity - n. the quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas, etc.?

institution - n. an established organization?

motivate - v. to give (someone) a reason for doing something?

compelling - adj. very interesting

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

3 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

4 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

5 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

6 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

7 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

8 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

9 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

10 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

11 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。