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AFFIRMATIVE ACTION THREATENED
Wednesday, August 15, 2012    
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UT Case Could End Policy In Education

Is affirmative action on its last legs? The U.S. Supreme Court is considering UT's use of race in its admissions policy. Even the Obama administration has asked the court to leave the UT policy intact.

Southwest Texas College of Law Professor Gerald Treece says education is the last major area where race is allowed to be a factor.

"This is the case that may put the final nail in the coffin of affirmative action."

Professor Treece says it appears the case is perfectly positioned to give the Court a chance to end what many consider to be reverse discrimination.

A white student sued UT in 2008 when she was denied admission because of her race. But Damon Hewitt with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund says diversity is too important to lose.

"It's important that we have students who learn in diverse environments; learn to work together -- which for the first time this happens in college for many students."

Supporters say affirmative action is needed to make up for Texas' racist past.