In 1977 the University of California board of Regents vs. Bakke began. Allan Bakke, a thirty five year old white man, had twice applied for admission to the University Of California Medical School at Davis. He was rejected both times without reasoning. Back in 1977 the University of California Regents allowed 100 students coming in every year. Every year the University of California reserved 16 places for “qualified” minorities as part of the university’s affirmative action program. In other words, to make sure that minorities don’t become extinct in the medical field from unfair advantages. Both years he applied he had exceptionally high GPA and test scores. In fact his grades and GPA were higher than the minorities that got in those two years. Of course he was furious.
After Allan Bakke found this out in 1978, first he tried his luck in the California courts, then in the Supreme Court. But the real question is… Does this action violate any laws? Usually the fourteenth amendments equal protection clause and the civil rights Act of 1964 were looked at for this particular test. There was no major majority in this case. Five justices were against four, so the five justices won their position. They basically said you can use race as an admission factor. They don’t have to let you in because of your race. But quotas are the illegal part. The quotas in this case were setting a standard of letting 16% minorities in. Therfore they discriminated against Allan Bakke. They decided to let Allan Bakke into the University Of California Medical School at Davis, while also helping racial minorities through the appropriate action. Allan Bakke succesfully graduated in 1982.
This free paper from the University of California board of Regents vs. Bakke was presented to you today by Andrew Pipkin