Fact-Checking the New York Times

Roger CleggEmployment

The Supreme Court’s decision to grant review in Fisher v. University of Texas, a case challenging that school’s use of racial and ethnic preferences in undergraduate admissions, got front-page, next-day treatment in the New York Times. Unfortunately, the article is misleading in some important ways. No surprise: The mainstream media’s efforts to pressure the justices are under way. Related posts: TESTIMONY OF ROGER CLEGG, PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL, CENTER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT Suggested Reading on Civil Rights Issues The Mismatch Game Another Reason to End Preferences

CEO Praises Supreme Court’s Decision to Hear Fisher v. University of Texas

Roger CleggEducation

(Falls Church, VA) The Center for Equal Opportunity praised the Supreme Court’s decision today to grant review in Fisher v. University of Texas, a case challenging the use of racial and ethnic preferences by the university in undergraduate admissions. Related posts: Fisher v. University of Texas Wrap-Up – Whew! Did Juan Williams libel LU’s Hans Bader? Politicized external review panels as unguided “diversity” missiles: California university administrators remain ultra-slow learners For once, the New York Times is right!

Happy Thanksgiving, and more

Roger CleggDisparate Impact

First of all, a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from the Center for Equal Opportunity! We at CEO have much to be thankful for this year, and that certainly includes supporters like you. One thing we would not put on our most-thankful-for list, however, is wacky interpretations of the civil-rights laws. Speaking of which … The Supreme Court granted review earlier this month in Magner v. Gallagher, which presents the question whether a “disparate impact” cause of action can be brought under the Fair Housing Act. Such lawsuits would allow plaintiffs to challenge housing-related practices that lead to disproportionate …

Sane Stern, Crazy Cuomo

Roger CleggEmployment

The sports section of Monday’s New York Times has a long puff piece  on Richard Lapchick and how he pushes for “diversity” (that is, race-based hiring practices) in professional and amateur sports. But in the middle of the predictable pabulum is a bracing dissenting note from NBA commissioner David Stern: Lapchick said he began receiving more cooperation in the years after Bud Selig and Roger Goodell became commissioners of M.L.B. and the N.F.L. But Commissioner David Stern, whose N.B.A. has historically received higher grades than the other leagues, argued that Lapchick’s good intentions—when carried to routine—missed the essential aim of fair-minded …

Census Bureau rushes unconstitutional ballot demand

Roger CleggVoting Rights

Usually my weekly emails to you are my own writing, but this week I’m going to send you an excellent column by Perry Pendley, head of the Mountain States Legal Foundation. And I think I have three good reasons for doing so. First, as I said, it’s an excellent column, and it’s even better because it draws on the fine work done by the Center for Equal Opportunity’s chairman Linda Chavez, who has told Congress repeatedly that it should get rid of its offensive requirement that ballots be printed in foreign languages. Second, Mr. Pendley and his organization are longtime …

Surprise result when city ends preferences in contracting

Roger CleggRacial Preferences

Supporters of racial and gender preferences in public contracting claim that preferences are needed because, without them, few contracts would go to minority- or women-owned firms. But a study recently done for Charlotte, N.C., reached exactly the opposite conclusion. After race and gender preferences ended, work awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses increased. How can that be? A bit of history is needed: Not long ago, Charlotte had a Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) program with preferential goals in its public contracts. The goals were suspended in 2002 as the result of a court challenge. The following year the …

Back to Madison!

Roger CleggRacial Preferences

The Center for Equal Opportunity went back to Madison, Wisconsin, this week! Our studies  revealing the heavy weight given to race and ethnicity in undergrad and law school admissions at the University of Wisconsin prompted a hearing at the state legislature. The chairman of the relevant committee is no friend of this kind of discrimination, and we were asked to testify. The hearings went very well, and you can read my testimony on ceo’s website at www.ceousa.org . As you know, our earlier visit to Wisconsin  last month was a great success. With the protestors, politically correct university officials, and all the media …

Affirmative action and football

Roger CleggRacial Preferences

When I’m debating the issue—as I frequently do—I often hear the following analogy used as a justification for affirmative action: Suppose that there were a game between two football teams, and during the first half one of the teams enjoyed all kinds of unfair advantages—its players were allowed to cheat in various ways, the referees made all kinds of unfair calls, and so forth. As a result, that team ran up a big lead. Then, after halftime, it was announced that from now on there would be no more cheating and bias—but the score was left unchanged and the opposing …

Voting Rights and Wrongs

Roger CleggVoting Rights

Last week, federal district court judge John Bates issued a decision in Shelby County v. Holder upholding the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires some jurisdictions (mostly but not exclusively in the South) to get permission from the federal government before making any change, no matter how trivial, in practices and procedures related to voting. This was disappointing but not surprising.  It would take a very brave federal judge to stick to rule-of-law principles and find Section 5 unconstitutional. Such action would bring a torrent of hysterical wrath from the media and the professional grievance …

Here’s Linda Chavez on The O’Reilly Factor

Roger CleggRacial Preferences

In case you missed it, here’s  Center for Equal Opportunity chairman Linda Chavez on The O’Reilly Factor last Friday, talking about the studies that the CEO released last week in Madison, Wisconsin, that revealed severe racial preferences in state university undergrad and law school admissions there—and talking about the thuggish reception we received in Madison. Related posts: BAMN! The Center for Equal Opportunity Zaps Racial Preferences Colorblind Law Politicized external review panels as unguided “diversity” missiles: California university administrators remain ultra-slow learners Does Equal Protection Violate the Equal Protection Clause?