University of Texas School of Law - Peregrinus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

Page 12 text:

Hopwood decision dominates UT news coverage In March of 1996, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that affirmative action policies are illegal because they consti- tute reverse discrimination. The decision bars Texas public uni- versities from using race as a criteria for the granting of admissions or financial aid. The case is named for lead plaintiff Cheryl Hopwood, who ( I.MFiu-d the UT law school ' s admissions policies discrimi- nated against white students. Before the ruling, the law school used a two-tier admis- sions policy that granted minority students with lower grade point averages and LSAT scores admission over white students with higher test scores. The case was originally filed in 1992. Since the decision, UT School of Law admission offi- cialy have worked on plans to keep minority applicants part of the student body. This past year, many opinions were expressed by students, fac- ulty and staff which filled the columns of The Daily Texan. On the following pages are excerpts from news stories which appeared in the Texan from June of 1997 through May m m ■ •V- - ■ :?-.-; M if 3 African-Americans enroll in Law School Wednesday, June 4, 1997 By Michael Crissey, Daily Texan Staff Three African-American applicants have indicated they will accept an offer of admis- sion to the UT School of Law, belaying fears that the school would not have a single African-American enrolled this fall, admis- sions officials said Tuesday. As of Monday, three of the 11 African- American students offered admission for next fall had put down their non-refundable $200 tuition deposits, said Shelli Soto, acting assis- tant dean for the UT School of Law ' s Office of Admissions. Soto also reported that 20 of 33 Hispanic students offered admission to the school have also sent in their deposits. Law School officials said the school will like- ly not enroll as many minority students this year as it had prior to the Hopwood court ruling and subsequent changes in admissions standards, but the numbers are not quite as dismal as some had feared. The law school enrolled 31 African- American and 42 Hispanic students last year. SG releases Hopwood board names Monday, July 28, 1997 By Chip Cheek, Daily Texan Staff The UT Student Government revealed on Friday the names of eight of the 10 people who will compose the board of directors for the Post-Hopwood Summit slated for November. Bernard Rapoport, former chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, has been select- ed as chairman of the board. The rest of the 10-member board will include SG President Marlen Whitley; UT System Regents Donald Evans and Lowell Lebermann; Brenda Burl, assistant to the UT dean of students for stu- dent equity and diversity; Terry Wilson, asso- ciate director of the Office of Pubhc Affairs; Hunter Stanco, associate editor of The Dally Texan; and John Doggett, a UT professor of management. The board will be responsible for selecting a venue for the summit, soliciting funding and finding guest speakers. SG officials have approached two other people about filling the two remaining spots on the board, but those names were not released pending confirma- tion of their participation. The Post-Hopwood Summit is designed to examine the effects of the March 1996 ruling by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in the Hopwood case, which bars Texas univer- sities from using race as a factor in admis- sions and financial aid decisions. Law School fights negative perceptions Thursday, August 21, 1997 By Amy Strahan, DaOy Texan Staff The latest figures from the UT School of Law show that four additional Hispanic students have sent the $200 deposit declaring their intention to attend this fall. The addition was welcome news for UT offi- 8 - Grappling with Hopwood

Page 11 text:

Cynthia Diane Rendon Icnnifer Casey Reynolds lustin Gazer Rice Carl Ambrose Richardson Christopher Carl Ritter Veronica Rivera Donald Prokop Roark Catherine Lewis Robb Dale Lynn Roberts lody Marie Roberts lustin John Roberts lames David Robinett Miguel Sergio Rodriguez Todd Alan Rogers lamieAdeleRose lason leffrey Rose Adam Brian Ross Gino lohn Rossini Brenda Inman Rowe lessica Eve Runyan Carolyn Ann Russell Kirstcn E. Pankopf Ruzicka Rashid Lee Saber Daniel Antonio Sanchez David Alonzo Sanchez Michael Chenier Sanders Nchal Bharat Sanghavi lohn H. Sartain |r. Richard Alan Schafer Brian Murdock Schmidt Brett Alan Schrader Christopher B.Schuelke Teasa MichcUe Scott Brad Edward Seidel Faisal Akhtar Shah Peter leremy Shakow David Matthew Shinnick Brian David Siegal Harry Graybill Simmons Paul Skeith Court D. Smith lohn Singleton Smith Kelli Burris Smith Spencer Freeman Smith Russell M. Soloway Frederick William Solt George Cole Spainhour lason Richard Steans lordana Rachel Sternberg Daxlon Rinchart Stewart Mark Wilson Stout Justin Brett Strother Clinton Ryan Stuart Awais Sufi Robert T. Aquinas Sullivan Peter Donald Sunukjian Elizabeth West Swain Caren Schmulen Sweedand Paul Frederick Tagg Trevor A. Taylor Daniel Thomas Temple James Yung-Te Tcng Robert Wayne Thoele La Wanda M. Thomas Lluanc Michael Thompson Kristinc Anne Tidgren Laura Elizabeth Toups Nhut Tan Tran Gcralyn leanettc TrujiUo Noha K. Tuma Douglas William Tyrka Elsa Cabello UUoa Claudia Valies Mark lason -ano Gavn, R..l.cit Vilhueal Denise Ana Villarreal Christine M, Vincenti Dagmar Von Diessl Christopher Sean Wade Robin Florence Wallace Li Yeu Wang Christopher Richard Ward Wesley R. Ward Philip Thornton Warman James Milton Warnica IV Slatcy Aliv.n Marnix Dawn MichiJIcWatkins Soil IliolWay Leslie Ann Webb Ayanna Charissc Weber Icnniter Lynn Webster lohn Reynolds Wcikart Kelly Flis.ibcihW. IS ' . KathermcDclonWcIld luirhc Scott Mitchell Wilson Graham Christian Winegeart Matthew Thomas Wirthhn Jenny Lee Womack Lauren Rence Wood Marva LaVon Woods lohn Carlton Wright Michael lames Yoch Mark Bennet Young Hsinyu Yu Catherine Georgette Zilahy Master of Laws R. Gomez-Palacio Del Rio Ryo Minami Christoph (ieorg Papenheim Dagobeilo R.Torres Marc George Van Niekerk

Page 13 text:

cials, who said Wednesday they were balding the perception that diversity at the University would wither after the Hopwood ruling. Of about 470 applicants who have paid deposits to secure places in the 1997 entering class, four are African-American and 25 are Hispanic students. Thus far, there are 17 fewer Hispanic stu- dents who plan to enroll in the law school this year. The number of Asian-American stu- dents at the law school has not dropped, Michael Sharlot, dean of the law school, said. Search for funds, speakers delays summit Wednesday, September 3, 1997 By Lisa Falkenberg, Daily Texan Staff A national post-Hopwood summit at the University planned for October has been postponed to November pending the resolu- tion of financial and scheduling issues. The summit ' s board of directors met Tuesday to plan the event, which is hoped to open up more discussion about higher educa- tion after Hopwood. Law student group rallies for diversity Friday, September 5, 1997 By Margarita Olivero, Daily Texan Staff Law Students for Diversity will sponsor a rally Friday to provide an open discussion about how to increase cultural diversity under the Hopwood ruling. The rally will begin at noon at the UT School of Law courtyard, and the speakers will include city council members Gus Garcia and Willie Lewis; Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and Morris Overstreet, Democratic candidate for Texas attorney general. Law dean promises to consider diversity proposals Monday, September 8, 1997 By Ryan Bauer and Nathan Roth, Daily Texan Staff More than 200 students rallied for better student recruitment efforts and more diversi- ty in faculty hirmgs Friday. The raUy, sponsored by Law Students for Diversity, was the first of a series of rallies by the group this semester addressing post- Hopwood issues at the University. Law School Dean Michael Sharlot said he was unable to attend the rally but added that he is willing to consider the proposals. Professor ' s comments questioned Thursday, September 11, 1997 By lennie Kennedy, Daily Texan Staff Remarks by a UT law professor who said blacks and Hispanics can ' t compete academi- cally with whites might set hack efforts to increase diversity, Michael Sharlot, dean of the UT School of Law, said Wednesday. Blacks and Mexican-Americans are not aca- demically competitive with whites in selective institutions, said Lino Graglia, a UT law pro- fessor. Grappling with Hopwood - 9