LETTER: Not all students want Rice to defy ruling on affirmative action

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by Wendy Nunnelley

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To the editor:

In the last several days, the members of the Rice community received a letter from President Malcolm Gillis regarding the recent Hopwood vs. the State of Texas court decision. While I agree that this is indeed a very important court decision for any university to be watching, I completely disagree with the attitude President Gillis seems to have taken on this issue.

He seems to believe that all the students of Rice are horribly offended by this decision (he calls it a "disruption") and want affirmative action restored immediately.

I, for one, am completely against affirmative action in any form and agree with the court's decision. It is particularly bothersome that President Gillis is hinting at finding ways to get around the decision.

He calls this finding "resourceful ways of meeting our commitments to equality of educational opportunity." Sounds to me like disguising affirmative action.

One of these "ways" was to increase "the budget for transporting such students to Owl Day." So some students are still getting special preferences.

I hope that Gillis and the Admission Office will eliminate all preferences so applicants can finally compete on level footing and the university can truly meet its commitment to equality.

Wendy Nunnelley

Jones '99

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the April 26, 1996 issue.

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