Press Releases
National Action Network (NAN) & Rev. Al Sharpton, Along With the Leadership Conference On Civil & Human Rights, To Stand Together On October 10th at the Supreme Court of the United States In Support of Equal Opportunity Policies In Higher Education
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–
NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK (NAN) & REV. AL SHARPTON, ALONG WITH THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL & HUMAN RIGHTS, TO STAND TOGETHER ON OCTOBER 10TH AT THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES IN SUPPORT OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION—–
RALLY TO TAKE PLACE AT THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES DURING ARGUMENTS IN FISHER V. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
New York, NY (October 3, 2012)—Reverend Sharpton, President of National Action Network, and MSNBC host, has announced that on October 10, 2012, NAN will unite with the Leadership Council on Civil and Human Rights and national organizations to show collective support for the admission policy used by the University of Texas at Austin during arguments in the case Fisher V. University of Texas at Austin. In this case, the Supreme Court will examine whether colleges have the right to consider race and ethnicity in making admissions decisions.
According to Rev. Al Sharpton: “National Action Network and I are vehemently opposed to any decision that will have a negative impact on people of marginalized backgrounds receiving an equal opportunity to higher education within the United States. This case will have a tremendous impact for future generations and we must stand together to make our voices heard.”
According to Wade Henderson, President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: “The Leadership Conference is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the National Action Network and all of our coalition partners in support of the University of Texas’ admissions policy. U.T. has created a fair process for expanding opportunity that provides a diverse and academically enriching campus for its student. It’s a policy that provides tremendous benefits to Texas and to our nation, and our presence at the Court will help amplify that message.”
Not only does this case threaten the equal opportunity admission policy used by the University of Texas at Austin, the decision held in this case could potentially overturn Grutter v. Bollinger, a 2003 case in which the Supreme Court ruled that race could play a limited role in the admissions policies of universities. If Grutter is overturned, all equal opportunity policies used in admissions at U.S. public universities could be eliminated.
BACKGROUND:
In Texas, all students in the top 10% of their respective high school class automatically gain admission to the University of Texas. If one is not in the top 10% of their school, he or she is placed in a pool with all of the other in-state applicants.
The University reviews all of the applicants and combines class rank, test scores and high school curriculum with a Personal Achievement Index (“PAI”) which is assigned to the applicant A PAI is created from two written essays that an applicant must submit and a personal achievement score based on a person’s leadership potential, community service, work experience and “special circumstances”. Special circumstances take into consideration the socio-economic status of the applicant’s family, languages other than English spoken at the applicant’s house, whether the applicant resides in a single parent household, and race. The University then compares the Academic scores and PAI of each applicant and determines who will be offered admission to the university.
WHERE:
The Supreme Court of the United States
1 First St. NE
Washington, DC 20543
WHEN:
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
11:00 a.m.
For Media Inquiries/NAN
Rachel Noerdlinger
Noerdlinger Media
([email protected])
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