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WASHINGTON – The Trump administration said the government would no longer encourage schools to use race as a factor in the admissions process, overriding the guidelines of the time of the day. Obama to promote diversity among students. the government's blessing to leave the race out of admissions and enlistment decisions and underlines the controversial policy that has surrounded for decades the affirmative policies, which have been repeatedly challenged before the Supreme Court [19659002]. among the 24 political documents revoked by the Department of Justice to be "useless, outdated, inconsistent with existing law, or otherwise inappropriate". Attorney General Jeff Sessions has called these changes an effort to restore the "rule of law", although groups to move and some universities have stated that they have the intention to continue their diversity efforts.
The action comes amidst a highly publicized court battle over Harvard University admissions that drew the government's attention, as well as on the renewal of the Supreme Court which should spark a more critical look at admission policies. 19659002] The most recent major court decision on the subject has reinforced the use of race by colleges among many factors in the admissions process. But author of the notice, Anthony Kennedy, announced his retirement last week, giving President Donald Trump a chance to replace him with a judge who might be more skeptical about admission programs which take into account race and ethnicity. s' stray from the position of the Obama administration, which said that schools could consider a race in the admissions decisions. In a 2011 policy document, the administration stated that the courts had recognized the interest of schools in ensuring racial diversity of populations on campus
"Institutions are not required to implement neutral approaches if they feel that approaches are impractical, "said the guide. "In some cases, race-neutral approaches will be impracticable because they will be ineffective in achieving the diversity sought by the institution."
This directive has now been rescinded, just as half a dozen similar documents, some of which explain court decisions baderting the use of race to make admissions decisions.
In such a document, the Obama administration said: "As the Supreme Court has acknowledged, diversity has benefits for all students." The announcement of the administration Trump is more in line with the Bush era policy that discouraged positive action and instead encouraged the use of race-neutral alternatives, such as percentage plans and economic diversity programs.
Although such guidelines do not have the force of law, schools are likely to be able to use them to defend themselves against lawsuits over admission policies.
The Department Trump's Justice Administration had previously signaled its concern over the use of race in admissions decisions.
For example, the department placed this year before US-based plaintiffs. Asians suing H
Students for Fair Admissions, the group that sues Harvard, is headed by Ed Blum, a legal strategist who also helped white student Abigail Fisher to sue the University of Texas for alleged discrimination in a case that reached Harvard, meanwhile, stated that he would continue to view race as a factor of admission to create a "diverse university community". where students from all walks of life have the opportunity to learn from each other. "
Criti" We condemn the Ministry of Education's politically motivated attack on positive action and the deliberate attempt to discourage colleges and universities from pursuing racial diversity. "Kristen Clarke , chairman and executive director of the Committee of Lawyers for Civil Rights under the law, said in a statement.
Lily Eskelsen Garcia, president of the National Association of Education, said that "positive action has She said that the announcement highlighted the issues surrounding the next appointment to the Supreme Court
The High Court has generally accepted to consider race in admissions decisions in order to achieve diversity. "In a 2016 Kennedy Notice, the court awarded a victory to the policies of the Supreme Court. Positive action by allowing the race to be among the factors taken into account in the process of admission to college.By prohibition of positive action in education.Judge Antonin Scalia died after that the court heard the arguments in the case but before the decision was rendered.
The new positive action directions may add to an already contentious fight over the next judge.
With Trump should announce His Candidate Next week, the issue should be a central element of any confirmation process, said Danielle Holley-Walker, Dean of Law School at Howard University.
She described this new orientation as "very unfortunate and counterproductive". The sessions department is likely to be aggressive towards schools that continue to take race into account in admissions decisions.
"People have spoken of precedent regarding Roe v. Wade" – the historic 1973 decision affirming a woman's right to abortion – "but it is important to remember that positive action has been a precedent for the past 40 years, "she said. "This is a clear attack on the previous ones .. Any Supreme Court nominee must be asked if he supports a precedent related to positive action."
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Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP [19659002] –
Associated Press Writers Mark Sherman and Jesse Holland in Washington, Collin Binkley in Boston and the National Writer Errin Haines Whack in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
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