Re: Is California Backsliding on Racial Preferences?

Roger CleggUncategorized

Peter Kirsanow has written excellent posts here and here and here regarding the pernicious attempt in California to revoke its Proposition 209 so that preferential treatment on the basis of race, ethnicity, and sex — a.k.a. affirmative action — can be reinstated in state and local public education, contracting, and employment. I just wanted to add that anyone who wants to sign a petition urging state legislators to vote against this execrable idea may do so here. 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 We Need More …

Higginson v. Becerra amicus brief

CEO StaffDocuments

Higginson v. Becerra amicus brief Related posts: CEO Files Amicus Brief in Donor-Disclosure Case Brnovich Amicus Brief Our Amicus Brief in a Felon Voting Case Amicus Brief: Adarand v. Mineta

Center for Equal Opportunity applauds new Title IX regulations

Linda ChavezUncategorized

The Title IX final rules released today by the Department of Education require major and most welcome changes in the procedures used by almost all public and private schools and campuses campuses across the country to investigate and adjudicate alleged sexual assaults and harassment. The current campus reality is a de facto presumption of guilt, which the Obama Administration demanded and most campuses readily adopted, with minimal procedural protections for accused students and guilt-presuming “training” of investigators and adjudicators. Most campuses have given accused students and their advocates no right to cross-examine accusers and other witnesses – despite repeated Supreme …

Race, the Coronavirus & a Farewell

Roger CleggCulture & Society, Uncategorized

Two Caveats re Race and the Coronavirus The data are starting to show that the coronavirus is having a disproportionate impact on African Americans.  I raise two caveats.   First, beware of using race as a proxy for underlying conditions (various health issues and, a step removed, poverty and geography) that are the real reason for the disparities.   Second, beware of blaming discrimination as the sole or even main cause of these underlying conditions, when there are likely many other causes, often cultural and behavioral. A Study of Little Interest A recent study says it has found that, in states that have banned racial …

Kudos to Idaho! (And to Pete and Gail!)

Roger CleggUncategorized

Kudos to Idaho! A couple of months ago, I flagged a bill that had been introduced in the state legislature there which would ban all discrimination and preference on the basis of race, ethnicity, and sex in public contracting, education, and employment. I’m now happy to report that the bill passed both houses and last week was signed into law by the governor.  Well done!  As I noted in the earlier post, here’s hoping that more states (and the federal government) follow suit. In the meantime, however, Peter Kirsanow has flagged a bill in California that would do exactly the opposite, namely remove the state law …

Woody Allen and Affirmative Action

Roger CleggRacial Preferences

In his recently published memoir, Woody Allen writes:   I’ve taken some criticism over the years that I didn’t use African-Americans in my movies. And while affirmative action can be a fine solution in many instances, it does not work when it comes to casting. I always cast the person who fits the part most believably in my mind’s eye. He’s strictly meritocratic, in other words. As he has said elsewhere: “I cast only what’s right for the part. Race, friendship means nothing to me except who is right for the part.” In light of Mr. Allen’s insistence that, nonetheless, “affirmative …

To Our Supporters

Roger CleggUncategorized

In this week’s email we simply want to express that our prayers are with all of you during this difficult time.     As you know, the Center for Equal Opportunity’s guiding principle is the same as our Nation’s traditional motto:  E pluribus unum — Out of many, one.  Those words seem particularly appropriate now, when all Americans are standing together against a common foe.     We at CEO are doing what we can to help stem the terrible tide, and have temporarily closed our offices.  We are sad to report that our chairman’s family has recently suffered a sad loss. …

Trump Trilogy

Roger CleggUncategorized

I’d like to devote my email this week to reviewing the outcome of three complaints — filed against three different educational entities by the Center for Equal Opportunity with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) — that have been successfully resolved for us during the Trump administration.  Together they cover the waterfront of much politically correct race-based decisionmaking in higher education.  We hope they will encourage others to file similar complaints with OCR. Texas Tech Medical School:  “Diversity” Racial Preferences in Admissions Rejected As a result of a complaint that the Center for Equal Opportunity filed in 2004 (!) against Texas Tech, the medical school there last year …

It’s Not That Complicated

Roger CleggRacial Preferences

The struggle against the Left on racial matters — in which I include politically correct race-based decisionmaking, identity politics, and related and supporting ideologies — is part legal and part cultural. The legal part is straightforward enough and is going tolerably well.  The Center for Equal Opportunity opposes the use of racial preferences, which are now legally constrained to a degree but still far too common in education, employment, and contracting; and it opposes the use of the “disparate impact” approach in the enforcement of our civil-rights laws, which is likewise constrained but not nearly enough.  I’m reasonably optimistic right now that we will continue to make progress — maybe …

SFFA v. Harvard amicus brief

CEO StaffDocuments

SFFA v. Harvard amicus brief Related posts: Waiting for the ‘Termination Point’ The Latest Affirmative Action Suit May Succeed Where Others Failed Good Briefs in the Harvard Case Investigating Discrimination at Harvard