“To
continue the Legacy Program at A&M while removing race as a consideration for admission, in my mind,
further erodes the image of this fine institution at a time that it needs to do more to attract
minority students,” said Senator Gonzalo Barrientos. [Sen. Ellis Press Release
1/7/2004].
Jim Harrington, a veteran civil rights lawyer who heads the Texas Civil Rights Project, said
A&M needs to change its policy or “it’s going to be Brown vs. the board of regents of Texas A&M,” an
allusion to the landmark desegregation case of the 1950s. [Todd Ackerman and Clay Robison chron.com
1/8/2004]
“More students were admitted because mom or dad went to A&M, than the total number of
African Americans admitted,” said NAACP President Gary Bledsoe. “The Texas A&M legacy program is
inherently discriminatory towards minorities, and based on nothing even resembling merit.” [Ellis
press release Jan. 7, 2004]
“The legacy program at A&M counters the worthy goal of closing the gaps in Texas
institutions,” said [Texas Rep. Michael] Villarreal, a 1992 A&M graduate.
He was
referring to the state’s “Closing the Gaps” initiative to bring about greater parity in college
attendance and graduation rates….
Instead of concentrating on an affirmative action
admissions policy, Gates has embarked on efforts to award more scholarships to needy, first-generation
college students and to intensify outreach efforts in urban areas. Last summer, the school opened a
center in HemisFair Plaza to facilitate applications for admissions, housing and financial
aid.
But Villarreal said he would give the university an “F” thus far in addressing
minority enrollment.
“They may be great efforts, but they are going to be judged on how
their minority numbers improve,” he said. “What really matters is who attends and who eventually
walks across the stage.” [Matt Flores, mysanantonio.com 1/8/2004]. Villarreal, D-San Antonio, noted
the inconsistency of A&M passing up an opportunity to increase minority enrollment because that would
“amount to special treatment of a specific set of the student population, then in the next breath
continuing a program that does exactly that for a segment of the student population already
disproportionately represented.” [Todd Ackerman & Clay Robison chron.com
1/8/2004]
“As an alumnus of Texas A&M, I am truly disappointed that the University has chosen to
create an admissions policy that is contradictory to their stated goal of seeking to improve minority
admissions,” said Representative Dawnna Dukes. “Establishing scholarships for first generation
disadvantaged minority students, while giving preference to second and third generation advantaged
students is contradictory to an even-handed policy. An aggressive attempt to recruit historically
disadvantaged applicants is not achieved by giving historically advantaged applicants a leg up. Such an
admission policy cannot possibly increase minority student enrollment.” [Sen. Rodney Ellis Press
Release 1/7/2004]
Texas Civil Rights Review 