Group vows to sue UT again over use of race in admissions

A nonprofit group challenging racial and ethnic considerations in admissions at the University of Texas has withdrawn its effort to revive one lawsuit and instead told an appeals court that it plans to file a new case in state District Court in Travis County.

Students for Fair Admissions Inc. contends that UT is violating state law and the Texas Constitution by benefiting African American and Hispanic applicants at the expense of white and Asian applicants. The university says its consideration of race and ethnicity is narrowly tailored, as the U.S. Supreme Court requires, and complies with state and federal law as well as the Texas and U.S. Constitutions.

Judge Scott H. Jenkins of Travis County ruled in December and March that the group’s lawsuit was fatally flawed because the sole person put forward as a “standing member” fell into a category of applicants whose race and ethnicity were not considered for admissions purposes.

The student had applied to the Butler School of Music, part of UT’s College of Fine Arts, but her performance on the French horn at an audition was judged inadequate for admission.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/20190426/group-vows-to-sue-ut-again-over-use-of-race-in-admissions