Bakke v The Board of Regents

 








In the year 1977 Allan Bakke filed a lawsuit against the Board of Regents in California. Allen Bakke was a 35-year-old white man, who was in the military. He had entered the medical program and was rejected twice. The program has only 100 spots available and 16 spots were to be set aside for minorities including “blacks”, “cinchonas”, “Asians”, and “American Indians”.  Bakke who was a white applicant and then was rejected although he had higher MCAT scores, GPA and bench scores than some of those admitted over him in the minority applicant section. 

Bakke sued the University of California in a state court, due to the medical school allegedly violating title VI of the civil rights act of 1964 which ended segregation in public places, and employment discrimination. Bakke views this that although he is white, he is more deserving of the spot in the medical program over the others. As well as the 14th amendment right that had been violated which was about equal protection clause in this amendment. Bakke legally should not be rejected due to his race, especially if he Is more qualified than the others who had applied over him. In an age aspect, the board used the argument that he was to old to be entered into the program. But Bakke was serving time in the military so he could not apply to the program when he was in his 20’s. He also though that having a military background would be beneficial to him, but clearly not. 



In the end there was a 5-4 decision agreed with Bakke. They agreed that “no applicant may be rejected because of his race, in favor of another who is less qualified.”. And I agree with this decision, because it should be about whom is more qualified for the position.


https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_regents.html

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