Group keeps vow to sue UT again over race in admissions
A nonprofit group sued the University of Texas on Thursday in state District Court in Travis County, contending that it is violating the Texas Constitution and state law by considering the race and ethnicity of applicants for admission.
Students for Fair Admissions Inc. filed a virtually identical lawsuit against UT in 2017, but Judge Scott H. Jenkins dismissed it in rulings last December and March. Jenkins found that the case was fatally flawed because the sole person put forward as a “standing member” was seeking to enroll in UT’s Butler School of Music, a category of applicants whose race and ethnicity are not considered.
At least three-fourths of UT’s freshmen from Texas gain admission under a state law that grants it automatically based solely on high school class rank. Most other applicants receive a so-called holistic review that takes race and ethnicity into account along with grades, essays, leadership qualities and numerous other factors.
“It is our belief that the Texas Constitution unequivocally forbids UT-Austin from treating applicants differently because of their race and ethnicity,” said Edward Blum, president of Students for Fair Admission. “We believe that most Texas judges and justices will agree with our interpretation of the Texas Constitution.”
Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/20190516/group-keeps-vow-to-sue-ut-again-over-race-in-admissions
