Lecture 9B Notes

What was UC Regents vs Bakke?
- A landmark case questioning affirmative action policies in college admissions. The ruling held that race could be a factor in admissions policies but not the sole criterion.
What was Gratz v Bollinger?
- A Supreme Court case where the Court ruled that the University of Michigan’s undergraduate affirmative action policy was unconstitutional as it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
What was Grutter v Bollinger?
- In this case, the Supreme Court upheld the University of Michigan Law School's affirmative action admissions policy, stating it served a compelling interest in achieving diversity.
What was Fisher v Texas?
- A case involving the University of Texas, where the Court upheld the use of race in admissions processes but required strict scrutiny of such policies.
Who is Edward Blum?
- A legal strategist known for challenging affirmative action policies in several landmark cases, including Fisher v Texas.
Who is Jojo?
- [Details regarding Jojo were not provided in the transcript].

Overview
- A nationwide college admissions bribery scandal involving wealthy parents, including celebrities, who paid bribes to secure spots for their children at elite universities.
Key Individual
- Rick Singer: The admissions “consultant” at the center of the operation; he devised a scheme to facilitate admission through fraudulent means.
Methods Used
  - Utilized accommodations for standardized tests to employ imposters to take tests on behalf of students.
  - Bribed college coaches to classify students as 'walk-ons' for sports teams without athletic backgrounds.
  - Payments were funneled through his Non-Profit, Key Worldwide Foundation.
Universities Involved
- Schools implicated included Georgetown, Stanford, UCLA, UCSD, USC, UT Austin, Wake Forest, and Yale.
Public Response
- The scandal led to widespread outrage and discussions about ethics in college admissions. The operation was publicized in August 2024, leading to various legal implications and further investigations.

Context and Description
- A controversial party hosted by Kappa Sigma fraternity at Duke University. The theme involved elements that were racially insensitive and deemed offensive to Asian culture.
Emails from Kappa Sigma
- The fraternity communicated about an event dubbed "International Relations," which was a thinly veiled cover for previous cultural appropriation events like "Asia Prime."
Comments on the Event
- Reflections included negativity around the repetition of such insensitivity; comments suggested a lack of accountability from the fraternity brothers.

Location and Hosting Organization
- Held at UC San Diego by the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Impact on Campus
- This event added to the existing racial tensions between Black students and the greater UC San Diego community, highlighting the underrepresentation of Black students, who made up only 2% of the student body.
Related Incidents
- Part of a broader series of events deemed “Black Winter,” which included anti-Black actions such as displaying a KKK hood and leaving a noose in the library.

UC San Diego Official Statement
- Issued by Chancellor Marye Anne Fox and Vice Chancellor Penny Rue on February 16, 2010, condemning an offensively themed party mocking Black History Month.
Call to Action
- The statement reaffirmed the Principles of Community at UCSD, urging the campus to reject discrimination based on various factors including race and to participate in a teach-in to address these issues.

Relevant Incident
- A significant occurrence in 2011 at UCLA involving Alexandra Wallace, who created a video regarding Asian American students, which led to a wave of responses and a boom in Asian American YouTube content.

Preparation Information
- Discussion about midterms, likely focusing on content to be studied and assessed.

Class Assignments
  - Discussion post scheduled for release at 12 PM. It is due the following Monday at 12 PM.
  - Instruction to read the article "Cambodian Donut Shop" before the next class.
  - Wish for students to have a safe and restorative weekend!