GOV BUSH FILES AMICUS BRIEF IN U OF MICHIGAN PREFERENCE CASE [Jeb's Amicus Brief linked here]

www.myflorida.com ^ | Jan. 16, 2003 | State of FL

[summer]

Jeb Bush, FL's Favorite Governor

(BTW, according to a St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald poll,
67% of FL voters now approve of One FL,
Gov Bush's plan eliminating race-based admissions
to FL colleges and universities.)


GOVERNOR BUSH FILES AMICUS BRIEF IN UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PREFERENCE CASE

Thursday, January 16, 2003

TALLAHASSEE – Governor Jeb Bush today filed an amicus brief arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court should invalidate the University of Michigan’s race-based admissions policies.

The brief affirms Florida’s commitment to maintaining racially and ethnically diverse institutions of higher education, but argues that diversity can and should be attained through race-neutral means. The brief also informs the Supreme Court of Florida’s success, since the implementation of the One Florida Initiative, in maintaining diversity in the State University System without resorting to race-based preferences.

To view the Governor’s "Amicus Brief on Race-based Admission," please visit the following website:

CLICK HERE.


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[summer]

The University of Florida's 'Opportunity Alliance' gave a scholarship to Marilyn Basillo (left), who now recruits for the program. Lydia Washington also won a program scholarship.

(PHOTOS BY REBEKAH JONES FOR THE ORLANDO SENTINEL)

January 18, 2003

[summer]

What exactly do they mean by "electronic classrooms"??

[scouse]

I believe it means having the classroom located in one area, but having it broadcast to the schools involved in the plan. Thus the same lesson can be taught to students in various parts of the state. The actual requirements for how it is going to be done are still being formulated.

[summer]

That is great news. Years ago, I believe I wrote Gov Bush about doing that. However, I am quite certain I was not the first, nor the last, person to think of it.

The reason this will be so great for FL is because we have a lot of students who are transient, and when they leave one school and then attend another, they are lost in terms of where that particular teacher may be teaching in the curriculum. But, with an electronic classroom, no matter where the student is physically located, the student can follow the same lessons.

I just love that Gov Bush is big on technology. This is such great news!

Also, this means: You will eventually have "star teachers" teaching, just as a network like, say, food tv, now has certain "star chefs." These "star teachers" can reach more students instead of being limited to merely one classroom of students. In fact, this concept is precisely what I wrote to him about several years ago -- the idea of having these superstar teachers reaching more kids via technology. Again, I am certain I'm not the first person to think of it.

[summer]

BTW, scouse, thank you very much for mentioning what you heard on the radio re: said matter, as now I will keep my eye out for news about that! :)

[torchthemummy]

You are spot-on copycat. This is a precedent-setting tactic that will ensure that, presuming the USSC rules against the Univ. of Michigan, further assaults against AA will have a ruling to use as a pretext (not just the Bakke case).

I admit I don't know enough about the case to know if it's fate will match the case that cropped up a couple years ago. That was the case where two teachers, one black and one white, went to the same university, got the same level of education, and had the same level of work experience but the black teacher got the job. This was one of those cases that highlighted an honest tipping of the scale, tiebreaker if you will. Still the fact was one was given preference over the other due to the color of their skin. It would have been a classic case for the USSC to review but a few months before it got there, the NAACP and some other race hustlers paid off the white plaintiff and that was the end of that.

I thought it was brilliant for President Bush to announce this brief a few days before MLK day, a day that should be called civil rights day so that it could correctly honor the bravery of people of all colors in defeating defacto institutional discrimination in the EARLY sixties. Legal vagaries aside, his speech fired the debate, shaped the debates parameters, and asked the so-called civil rights industry to look themselves in the mirror. Not gonna happen but still stuck on ein their craw.

[ClaireSolt]

Economics, not race, prevented more black students from taking offers at the University of Florida. Maybe this discussion should be about making money available to qualified and accepted students.

Bush has also addressed this issue regarding vouchers: he has raised a pool of money to fund them. Improving primary and secondary education in cities is the main way to get more qualified applicants to premier institutions. That brings us back to dem pols and the teacher unions IMO.

Also, it matters who draws up statistics. The higher education system includes other public institutions which are also good. First generation college attendees are more likely to live at home and attend local colleges and junior college, for lots of reasons.

[Kryptonite]

Thanks again summer. I really appreciate your efforts.

[summer]

Economics, not race, prevented more black students from taking offers at the University of Florida. Maybe this discussion should be about making money available to qualified and accepted students.

Claire, tuition at FL's public universites is among the least expensive in the nation, if not the least inexpensive in the nation.

Also, as the above Orlando Sentinel articles point out, a FL Bright Futures scholarship -- based entirely on merit -- pays for 75% of the cost of higher education for FL students who meet the requirements, which are not terribly difficult to meet.

However, I think you make a valid point with respect to other states' institutions of higher ed -- NY just hiked up tuition at its public universities by 41% (forty-one per cent) and the tuition there was more than FL to begin with.

In addition, private universities and private colleges have not lowered their tuition rates at all.

[summer]

Thanks again summer. I really appreciate your efforts.

My pleasure, Kryptonite. (And, BTW, yes, I do recall you mentioning what happened with you and that FAMU photo!) :)

[summer]

Of course, I meant: ...tuition at FL's public universites is among the least expensive in the nation, if not the least expensive in the nation.

[davidosborne]

Great post summer.. thanks for the info.. I wonder when the rest of the country will learn that you get the news HERE first!!....

FReegards,

David

[summer]

I wonder when the rest of the country will learn that you get the news HERE first!!....

David, Thanks! And, I couldn't agree with you more on that above point! :)

[summer]

Also, in case you missed it, from AP and The Miami Herald, Dec 2002 --

Two Floridians Among New 32-Member Rhodes Scholar Class