VOA标准英语2012--US Supreme Court Hears Racial Preference Case
时间:2019-01-14 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2012年(十月)
US Supreme 1 Court Hears Racial Preference Case
Outside the Supreme Court in Washington people gathered to have their opinions heard. The high court is deciding whether schools can consider race when admitting students. Some, like University of Texas student Jasmine Kyles, say race matters in building a diverse student body.
"Once we leave our classrooms we are going to step out into a world where everybody does not look like you, everyone does not think like you. So it is great. We get this feel of diversity inside the classroom, so when we go out and step into this global economy we know what we are up against," said Kyles.
The case involves Abigail Fisher, a white woman who was denied a place at the University of Texas, Austin in 2008. She and her supporters claim she had better grades than other students who were admitted, but was the victim of racial discrimination.
"Race and ethnicity should not be considered when applying to the University of Texas," said Fisher.
The University of Texas uses race as a factor in about 20 percent of admissions to achieve greater diversity in the classroom. Racial preferences are supported by more than 100 college and universities.
Walter Weber is senior counsel with the American Center for Law and Justice. He says colleges and universities should not use racial preferences in admissions.
"The administration of the University of Texas has admitted they are engaging in race-based decision making. Our position is that it should be saying, 'We are not going to consider race, we decide each application on its merits," said Weber.
NAACP Legal Defense 2 Fund lawyer Josh Civin disagrees.
"Can universities have all tools in a tool kit 3 to ensure that students of all backgrounds and of all races contribute to a learning environment that is diverse? We really think you should not take a tool out of that tool kit because it is so important for our future as a society, for the very fabric 4 of our democracy," said Civin.
In 2003, the court found racial preferences in undergraduate admissions at the University of Michigan unconstitutional because it said they amounted to a quota 5 system. But the court upheld affirmative action as praticed by the University's law school because race was only one factor in admissions.
Now the court is more conservative.
Cato Institute analyst 6 Ilya Shapiro says the conservative majority could be key in the outcome.
"I think the university will lose. The only votes that I think are somewhat in play is Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kennedy who are both on the record quite strongly against racial preferences," said Shapiro.
Analysts 7 say the Supreme Court will look at whether to clarify the boundaries of racial preferences in college admissions or eliminate them altogether. That would be a sweeping 8 decision, undermining admissions policies that go back to the 1960s.
- It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
- He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
- The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
- The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
- The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
- The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。
- The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
- I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。
- A restricted import quota was set for meat products.肉类产品设定了进口配额。
- He overfulfilled his production quota for two months running.他一连两个月超额完成生产指标。
- What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务?
- The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。
- City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
- I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。