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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTAMU and Legacy Programdews The Odessa American Mon, Jan 12, 2004 Page 17 hftps://www.newspapers.com/image/302879828 Printed on Mar 19, 2019 Bowen: A&M considered dropping legacy program after 1996 decision COLLEGE STATION (AP) - Texas A&NI's past president sans that his administration had considered making the same move that his successor did last week dropping the admission policy that gave pn-f- erence to applicants whose par- ents or grandparents were alumni. Ray Bowen. president Trnm 1994 to 2002, said that after the 1996 court decision banning the use of race -based admissions preferences. -v toot consid- ered droppini, .►e program. But he said his administration con- cluded that deleting the school's legacy program might harm the university's efforts to increase the ethnic diversity of its students. Robert Gates. A&M's current president. said Friday he would end the 1.1-year{old practice that gave an edge to freshman appli- cants with relatives who attend- ed the once all -white university. Minority lawmakers and civil rights groups said that the lega- cv program discriminated against applicants of- color. Representatives of state civil rights groups had threatened to sue the school if the lxolicy- did- n't change. "We studied it after Hopw(xxi and determined le eacv was helping minorities in a small way:" Bowen to►d the Rrvan- College Station Eagie in Sunday's editions. Bowen said his administm; twn calculated that dropping legacy probably would have decreased the number of minorities who enrolled by three or four a year The 1996 Hopwood court deci- sion banned Texas universities ttvm using race -based admis- sions preferences and scf>obw- sh ips. M)w-en said Gates made the rtvht decision in light of the recent uproar. Legacy critics have said the ptogram's end is a small step toward a mo diverse student body: which W2 percent white. Copyright © 2019 Newspapers.com. All Rights Reserved. dews