Duke
University has affirmative action and legacy admissions. What prevents Texas A&M from the same?
Perhaps the public nature of the university is a consideration, but if Aggie alumni wanted to follow
the Duke plan by restoring legacy and affirmative action, who can doubt their political abilities in
Texas? State Senator Jeff Wentworth suggests that the Ten Percent Plan is raising enough complaints to
attract the legislature’s attention. But here’s the question, is Aggie hostility to affirmative
action greater than their political desire to continue a legacy program. And if hostility to
affirmative action exceeds alumni loyalty at Texas A&M, what does that say about the temperament of
Aggie Culture when it comes to race?
[Published at TheBatt, Jan. 27,
2004]