The esteemed U.S. Military Academy at West Point upholds its race-aware admissions practice despite looming Supreme Court scrutiny. Monday saw a federal appeals court decline to block West Point's policy that factors race into admissions decisions.
Supreme Court On The Horizon
It's a tense countdown to the current application deadline of January 31 as Students for Fair Admissions pulls out all stops to halt West Point's race-conscious admissions policy. The organization known for having previously spearheaded a successful Supreme Court challenge to race-aware collegiate admissions took swift action. They appealed to the Supreme Court to block West Point's policy even before the 2nd Circuit had a chance to cast its decision. They had promised to withdraw their appeal to the Supreme Court if the 2nd Circuit had ruled in their favor.
Cadet's Career Dreams Hang in The Balance
The prestigious military service academy, West Point, schools future Army cadets and is a "vital pipeline to the officer corps." The U.S. Justice Department highlights the academy's race-conscious practices to fulfill its "mission critical" goal of producing officers as diverse as its enlisted military ranks.
With the potential Supreme Court appeal casting a large shadow, this significant decision by the academy has provoked a contentious discussion on diversity and representation in the United States armed forces.
Students For Fair Admissions Vs. West Point
This legal dispute began in September when Edward Blum, a critic of affirmative action, founded Students for Fair Admissions and filed a lawsuit against West Point. The aim was to do away with an exemption in the Supreme Court's June 2023 ruling on college admissions. This exemption allowed institutions like West Point to continue considering race during admissions.
The Supreme Court debunked policies long adopted by American colleges and universities to expand the presence of Black, Hispanic, and other minority students in colleges and universities across America in a ruling backed by its 6-3 conservative majority.
However, Chief Justice John Roberts acknowledged "potentially distinct interests" when it didn't tackle the issue of race in military academy admissions.
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A Disparity in Numbers and a Concern for Ethos
Accusations from Blum's group included claims that West Point was employing discriminatory admissions practices against white applicants. The organization argues these practices breach the principle of equal protection under the U.S. Constitution. The Biden administration has countered this, stating the concern senior military leaders have shown towards the lack of minority officers potentially causing rifts within the armed forces.
As it turns out, the statistics paint a worrying picture. While Black people represent 20.2% of the Army's active-duty enlisted personnel, they account for 11% of the officers. The percentage dips further regarding Hispanic personnel, with 18% active personnel but a lowly 9% officers. For white people, the disparity widens, with 51.7% serving as active-duty enlisted and 68% as officers.
As the saga continues, attention now turns to the Supreme Court whether to halt or uphold the academy's diversity-friendly approach. Each decision stands to make waves in the ongoing conversation on race-conscious admissions in academia.
