Month: January 2004

By Matt Flores
San Antonio Express-News

Citing Texas A&M University’s poor record of attracting minority students, legislators Wednesday called on the institution to abandon its practice of giving a boost in the admissions process to children, grandchildren and siblings of alumni.

“You can’t close the door on affirmative action and make birthright an entitlement to admission,” state Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, said in a news conference.

Continue reading “A&M 'legacy' policy seen related to lack of minorities”

Minorities say policy favors white applicants

Jan. 8, 2004

By Todd Ackerman
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

Minority politicians and activists around the state Wednesday urged Texas A&M University to bring consistency to an admissions policy that doesn’t consider race or ethnicity but includes a “legacy” program that favors whites.

The legacy program, which gives points to applicants whose parents, siblings or grandparents went to A&M, is the deciding factor in the admission of more than 300 white freshmen annually. Only a handful of blacks and about 25 Hispanics are admitted each year because of the program.

Continue reading “Houston Chronicle: End 'legacy' program, A&M urged”

Press Release
From the Office of State Senator Rodney Ellis

Jan. 7, 2004

State Officials, Civil Rights Advocates
Call on Texas A&M to Correct Admissions Policies

Austin, TX–Senators Rodney Ellis and Gonzalo Barrientos were joined by State Representative Dawnna Dukes the NAACP, LULAC, MALDEF, and the Texas Civil Rights project for a press conference on Wednesday focusing attention on the admissions situation at Texas A&M University.

Continue reading “Ellis, Barrientos, Dukes, NAACP, MALDEF and More Join in Dissent against A&M”

Role of family ties in acceptance called `institutional racism’

By TODD ACKERMAN
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

Blood ties to alumni, sometimes known as the other affirmative action, are the deciding factor in the admission of more than 300 white Texas A&M University freshmen annually, according to data provided by the school.

Such students — known as “legacy admits” — equal roughly the overall total of blacks admitted to A&M each year. Only a handful of black students a year are admitted because of legacy points.

Continue reading “Legislators slam A&M over legacy admissions”