Controversy Over Racial Comments in College Admissions

A recent photo of Texas Longhorn students celebrating their victory over Ohio State sparked a viral discussion. The attention shifted from the win to racial comments made by Bo French, a candidate for Texas railroad commissioner. French criticized the racial diversity visible in the image and suggested there were too many non-white students, notably those of Indian heritage.

In response, French stated, “I cheered the win for the team. It was a great game. But I weep for the families in Texas who can’t get into UT because they prioritize foreigners over Texans.” His remarks drew backlash, even from those within his party. Radio host Erick Erickson discussed the influence of white nationalism within the Republican Party. Karl Rove expressed he would support French’s Democratic opponent if necessary. Ben Shapiro highlighted a contradiction, noting that Vice President Vance, a presumed future Republican leader, has an Indian wife and biracial children.

Conservatives have historically pushed for race-blind admissions, achieving significant wins in this domain. The rise in comments like French’s highlights a tension within the movement; some regret the loss of power to influence admissions based on race. The irony lies in the fact that the University of Texas at Austin was central to the fight against race-based admissions. The 2008 case of Abigail Fisher, who sued the university over its admissions policy, reached the Supreme Court but did not succeed. By 2023, the landscape had shifted enough for the Court to rule against race-based admissions in the case of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University.

This decision was a triumph for those opposing racial considerations in admissions, claiming it often disadvantaged highly qualified applicants like Asian students. In Texas, Republican figures pushed aggressively to eliminate race conscious admissions. Ken Paxton, Ted Cruz, and John Cornyn urged the Court to act, and Governor Greg Abbott moved to ban diversity initiatives in education.

Without racial preferences, admission is based solely on academic merit. This doesn’t necessarily result in more white students. High-achieving groups, including Asians and Indians, often secure more places. French’s objections mirror those of progressives who once supported using race in admissions. It is crucial for admissions to focus on merit rather than racial factors. This principle remains a cornerstone of conservative and libertarian legal victories.

Ultimately, when looking at photos of university celebrations, it is important to know that students are admitted based on their individual achievements. If opposition to this principle exists while simultaneously rejecting progressive race-based considerations, it reflects a narrow ideological stance akin to white nationalism. Such views are not universally accepted, even among conservatives. Robby Soave, co-host of The Hill’s “Rising” and senior editor for Reason Magazine, provides this perspective.