It’s clear to me that this re-segregation of higher learning is part of the Republican Party’s quest to undo all civil rights legislation.
As Governor George Wallace said:
"In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever."
"CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, April 25 (Reuters) - In a bustling sunken courtyard at the center of the University of North Carolina's Chapel Hill campus, a group of students handed out slips of papers with a warning for their peers.
"Is diversity at UNC important to you? It’s under threat," the handouts read.
The message came ahead of U.S. Supreme Court rulings in a pair of affirmative action cases this spring, which could drastically alter how race is considered in admissions at North Carolina's flagship university and other colleges.
The debate over race-conscious admissions policies comes as many schools are grappling with their racist pasts and striving for greater inclusion of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
But like much of America, students at UNC are divided on the issue of affirmative action - the practice of factoring race in admissions to boost minority enrollment - and the role it should play in creating a diverse student body.
Interviews with more than a dozen students revealed that most valued the benefits of diversity and thought the university should do more to correct its blemished record on race.
Many students felt affirmative action was needed to achieve those goals. Others were uncomfortable that race gave certain applicants an edge in UNC's competitive admissions process. Some said they avoided the topic because of the tension around it.
"People don’t really want to think about something like their race being accounted for getting into a university," said Sarahann Bu, a Burmese Chin American sophomore, who supports the practice.
Jacob James, chair of the College Republicans, said schools with tarnished racial histories are overcorrecting and discriminating against white and Asian students, when they should focus on promoting intellectual diversity.
"That’s not to say that including people that are Black and brown isn’t important," said James, who is white. "But I think that it’s pretty cynical to say that if we don’t give them outsized advantages then they won’t be able to make it here."
How North Carolina students view the lawsuit threatening affirmative action
Gabriella Borter 5 minute read April 25, 20237:11 PM EDT
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