The battle over the legality of affirmative action policies in
institutions of higher learning continues as academics and lawmakers at both state and
federal levels struggle to define what it means to "level the playing field."
Young Latinos at the 1996 La Promesa youth summit listed a lack of educational
opportunities as a challenge to their future success. Later that same year, a ruling by
the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on the Hopwood v. Texas case set a precedent for the
abolition of affirmative action policies in higher education. Programs that had been in
place since the 1960s were called into question. The courts are
still struggling to determine whether using race as a factor in college admissions,
scholarships and financial aid awards is still the most effective means of "leveling
the playing field," or whether race-based determinations are simply an unnecessary
relic from an outdated crusade.
What’s Happening?
True to the fears of affirmative action proponents, the recent abolishment of
affirmative action in several states encouraged congressmen to attempt the same tactics at
the federal level. Rep. Frank Riggs (R-CA) proposed legislation that attempted to ban
federal affirmative action policies by adding restrictions onto the federal Higher
Education Act. This legislation, which contained rules for higher education and a package
of scholarships, grants and subsidies valued at $101 billion, was modeled after state
antiaffirmative action policies in Texas (Hopwood) and California (Proposition
209).
However, the bill was rejected by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 7, 1998.
In a move to preserve affirmative action in the state, the University of Texas
announced its intention to appeal the historic Hopwood v. Texas decision to the U.S.
Supreme Court on May 14, 1998. If the appeal is heard, the Supreme Court will be in a
position to set a national standard for the use of race in college admissions, settling
the current debate over the constitutionality of current affirmative action policies.
How Does It Impact Young Latinos?
The civil rights movement of the 1960s attempted to "level the playing
field," to compensate for obstacles faced by minority populations which limited their
opportunities for advancement and success. Many Latino politicians,
academicians, and
community leaders owe their educational or career opportunities to legislation that used
ethnicity as one determining factor. However, even after thirty years of federally
mandated affirmative action policies, inequalities persist. Latinos still lag behind in
overall college enrollment numbers, college graduation rates and completion of
master's and doctoral degree programs. In the 1960s, affirmative action was one solution to
inequalities caused by discrimination, poverty, lack of supplementary academic resources,
poor quality schools, overcrowding, lack of guidance in planning for college, and violence
in minority communities. What will the answer be for the future?
What Are the La Promesa Programs Doing?
Some solutions are already in place within the Latino community. Latino Dollars for
Scholars of Rhode Island, a 1996 La Promesa program, provides scholarships and academic,
personal and social support for Latino college students. The University of St. Thomas
Hispanic Pre-College Project provides after-school and summer enrichment programs for
Latino youth, as well as parent outreach and education. The 1998 Promesa winners also
offer several solutions. Focus on First Graders, a program of the El Paso Independent
School District, is a culturally and linguistically sensitive retention program whose goal
is to help prepare students for college through early academic intervention. The Idaho
Hispanic Youth Symposium uses a dual-language approach to enhance self-esteem and
leadership skills through mentoring and interactive workshops. And the San Antonio
Pre-Freshman Engineering Program utilizes an 8-week summer course to prepare talented
young Latinos for careers in science and engineering, fields with traditionally few
Latinos.
The question remains: What’s next for Affirmative Action in higher education?
Young Latinos deserve an equal chance for success--it is up to adults to find and
implement a way to assure that all children have the chance for a bright future.
