More than any other Supreme Court Justice, William Brennan worked to level the playing field for black Americans. As the recognized architect of affirmative action strategies for higher education, he left an indelible imprint on equal education in America. (SLD)

Reviews Cole and Barber's "Increasing Faculty Diversity: The Occupational Choices of High-Achieving Minority Students," which has aroused controversy because its findings bear directly on the University of Michigan's affirmative action cases. Cole and Barber surveyed minority and white students in Ivy League, elite, and historically…

Discusses how colleges and universities must demonstrate that granting racial preferences in admissions will confer a benefit upon society, and how they can develop a plan for granting racial preferences that is "narrowly tailored" to achieve only the level of diversity needed to create the desired benefit. (EV)

Discusses current higher education of black students, noting that racial discrimination is still present, with opportunity and access to higher education determined primarily by wealth. Notes reverses in previous advances in racial change within education, examining the polarized environment of class and race, and describing how liberal education…

Asserts that there is a need in all higher education, including the health professions, for racial, ethnic, and other kinds of diversity, and describes two court cases involving the University of Michigan's affirmative action admission policies. Discusses why "colorblind" and "socioeconomically oriented" admission policies do not work. (EV)

Surveyed medical students about the relevance of racial diversity (among students) in their medical education. Students reported contacts with diverse peers greatly enhanced their educational experience. They strongly supported strengthening or maintaining current affirmative action policies in admissions. (EV)

Asserts that affirmative action is so contentious because it is not a true regime of group rights, discussing: when a group is not a group; black Americans and interest group pluralism; black Americans and corporatism; the prescience of black nationalists; the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund; when an organization is not an…

Examines effects of financial aid on college entry patterns of Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics. Uniform financial aid awards probably increase the representation of Blacks in higher education. For Hispanics, however, family and academic background variables may outweigh the financial aid factor in the decision to enter college. (DM)

Discusses why sexual harassment in higher education continues to persist despite initiatives to eradicate it. Cites deep cultural roots of sexism. Claims, although higher education has participated in resistance to sexual harassment, this resistance will be of limited good unless historical connections among sexuality, gender, and power are…

Suggests the following strategies to facilitate successful recruitment of women and minority faculty: (1) develop team approach; (2) apply flexible criteria; (3) participate in networks; (4) advertise in nontraditional places; (5) look beyond publication lists; (6) promote cultural diversity; (7) plan to spend money; and (8) communicate an…

Arguments for more affirmative action measures to increase the number of minorities on college faculties have been insufficient because the real aim has been to bring about dramatic equalization of conditions through preferential hiring and proportional representation rather than concentrating efforts to help children succeed in school. (MLW)

Both critics and supporters of affirmative action cite the commitment of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) to diversity in the undergraduate population as an example supporting their positions. Merit, diversity, and family income are weighed in applicant processing. (MSE)

The University of Virginia admits proportionately more blacks and children of alumni than other groups. Some other groups also get preferential treatment in admissions: athletes, musicians, artists, applicants from rural areas, children of faculty, female scientists, and other minority group members. (MSE)

Discusses the higher educational background of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas from his acceptance at Holy Cross College through affirmative action through Yale University. The authors provide a description of Justice Thomas as a person who constantly felt he was being looked down upon and describe his bitterness and frustration following…

Two decades of affirmative action have not substantially altered the percentage of women and minorities in higher education faculty and professional ranks. Although continued attention to affirmative action is important, institutions should not let their guidelines channel and truncate the screening process so as to overlook stronger candidates.…