The viral photo of Texas Longhorn students celebrating their victory over Ohio State ignited a controversy involving race and university admissions. Bo French, a Republican candidate for Texas railroad commissioner, commented on the racial makeup of the cheering section, expressing concern over the number of non-white students, particularly those of Indian heritage, at the University of Texas. His remarks drew condemnation from both sides of the political spectrum.
French accused the university of prioritizing foreign students over Texans, claiming it affected local families’ ability to gain admission. His opinions were widely criticized. Conservative figures like Erick Erickson addressed the infiltration of white nationalist thought in the Republican Party. Karl Rove stated he would consider voting for French’s Democratic opponent. Ben Shapiro pointed out the contradiction in right-wing complaints about Indian representation, especially given Vice President Vance’s family connections.
The conservative and libertarian movements have long opposed race-based admissions. Institutions have been pressed to adopt race-blind policies, allowing merit-based selections to prevail. UT-Austin played a pivotal role in ending race-based admissions following the Abigail Fisher case, which challenged policies rewarding minority students extra points during admissions. The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University made race-based admissions effectively illegal.
As a result, universities now prioritize academic performance over racial considerations. High-performing immigrant groups, particularly Asians and Indians, naturally excel in a merit-based system. French’s objections highlight a growing backlash against these shifts in admissions policy.
Republican leaders in Texas have actively worked to end race-conscious admissions, advocating for laws and policies prioritizing individual merit. This approach aims to eliminate racial stereotyping in favor of rewarding academic achievement.
In essence, objections to merit-based admissions resemble past arguments for race-based selection. Such resistance is inconsistent with conservative and libertarian achievements, promoting meritocracy over racial criteria. If critics, like French, oppose both merit-based admissions and race-based sorting, their stance aligns closer to white nationalism.