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| Title | Houstonian 1997 |
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| Place of Creation (TGN) |
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| Date | 1997 |
| Description | This edition of the Houstonian, published in 1997, is the official yearbook of the University of Houston. |
| Donor | The digitization and presentation of this yearbook was made possible by a gift from Ms. Lisa Burns in honor of her service as Houstonian editor. |
| Subject.Topical (LCSH) |
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| Language | English |
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| Original Item Location | LD2281.H745 H6 v. 63 1997 |
| Original Item URL | http://library.uh.edu/record=b1158762~S11 |
| Digital Collection | Houstonian Yearbook Collection |
| Digital Collection URL | http://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/yearb |
| Repository | Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries |
| Repository URL | http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/campus-libraries-collections/special-collections |
| Use and Reproduction | This image is in the public domain and may be used freely. If publishing in print, electronically, or on a website, please cite the item using the citation button. |
| File Name | index.cpd |
| Title | Year In Review |
| Format (IMT) |
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| File Name | yearb1997047.jpg |
| Transcript | by Don LeGrand In compliance with a federal decision in the case of Hopwood vs. Texas, the University of Houston sus- pended programs that used race or ethnicity as deciding factors in their decisions. In the Hopwood case, four white students alleged they were not allowed to be admitted to the University of Texas Law School due to the schools affirmative action pro- gram, resulting in a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision to restrict the UT Law School from using race as a determining factor in admissions practices. "All students should have equal opportunities no matter what race they are;' said senior journalism major Cheyenna Smith. "Everyone who desires to further their quality of life should not be denied access to a university;' Some students, such as freshman University Studies student Ivan Luna and senior pre-med/history major Merle Walker, said they felt the removal of minority-based programs would hurt those groups involved. ^^ "Affirmative action helps to level the playing field. Getting rid of it would unbalance the playing field;' Walker "The implementation of affirmative action allowed minorities the same opportunities as other individuals;' Luna said. Texas Attorney General Dan Morales advised all Texas institutions to use only race-neutral policies in financial aid and admissions procedures. However, schools in Louisiana and Mississippi do not have to comply due to litigation restricting them from dismantling affirmative action programs, fc "Most people don't understand what ideas are behind it. It is designed to allow people who may not have been given an opportunity to excel in an organization. However, affirmative action is only a temporary device to a permanent problem;' said Students' Association President Natalie Merritt. The decision led UH System Chancellor William P Hobby to distribute a memo to all four UH universities, suspending the consideration of race and ethnicity in programs such as admissions, financial aid and scholarships. Based on department review, programs could be eliminated if race criteria was used as basis for participation. Some said they felt the Hopwood decision could actually have beneficial aspects, such as the elimination of race questions in admission applications. "A positive aspect of the decision could be getting rid of the race question on application and scholarship forms and eliminating quotas of ethnicity schools must have;' said sophomore University Studies student Joe Jones. Protesters listen to one of the many speakers at an affirmative action rally in Austin Feb. 22. The rally was part of a protest by Hispanic- Americans against Texas Attorney General Dan Morales' interpretation of Hopwood. calling for the removal of race-based criteria from university programs. Photo Courtesy of: Mike Chamberlain After marching through downtown Austin, students participate in a rally to return and expand affirmative action, held feb. 22. a similar rally was held at the university of Houston Feb. 26 by some of the more than 30 students that attended the Austin rally. Photo Courtesy of: Mike Chamberlain Year in Review Hopwood |