Top 10%

Everyone knows that in Texas you need to be in the top 10% of your school to get into UT, but some might not know that if you are in the top 10% you can get in any public Texas University automatically.  As found on the Texas Monthly, Top 10 Percent Rule on Trial written by Erica Greider, she shows us something that is happening with the University of Texas.  While the supreme court allows schools to accept people off of race, to create a more diverse campus, Abigail Fisher, was not accepted into UT because she was not top 10%, and claims the decision was made with unconstitutional racial discrimination.  Erica agrees with Abigail in this blog, and believes that the supreme court should make the ruling in favor of Abigail, as she says, "A ruling in Fisher's favor would be rightly understood."  She also believes that the top 10% rule isn't creating a much diverse campus.  Erica creates her blog with a style that I like, she starts with the history and the facts, and as she talks about it, she works her opinions in as the blog continues.  She shows her opinion towards what is happening with Fisher v. University of Texas, and that she is also saying that diversity is good thought a campus but needs to be effectively done, and the top 10% rule isn't doing its justice.  Erica's blog is a well organized set of facts and opinions.  The top 10% rule is one that I never cared for just because the class I graduated with was very competitive, but I ended up going to ACC anyway so this never applied to me. I wish UT was easier to get in to, but if it was, would UT still be the same? Is it helping diversity?

Can Religion and Government Mix?

         Found on The Daily Texan, Emily Vernon makes an argument that christianity beliefs should not be brought into governmental decisions.  She starts with talking about the Texas governor Greg Abbott. She says that he sides with christianity when making important decisions, and because the Texas government is made up of christians, they adopt an "ethnocentric religious view".  This is shown when they denied rights to the LGBT community.  She also claims that the constitution gives us the freedom of religion and if you make decisions off your own personal beliefs, then we run into a problem.  As she says, "in a country where freedom of religion is guaranteed, it is paradoxical to institute religious policy".  I can not say I disagree with her either.  She makes a good point, but what I believe she should have incorporated a little more, is the fact that the Texas government shouldn't make decisions off of personal beliefs and they should stay neutral.  She does talk about it, but I believe that singling out the governor is a little overkill and could have been a more general statement.  But she does have a good point.  The Texas government should be more neutral in making decisions, and it could be more beneficial to the citizens of Texas.  

UT Immigration Clinic

Hello Everyone! Today I wanted to talk about an article I found in The Daily Texan, and article written by Elizabeth Hlavinka, over the UT immigration clinic.  Her article was very interesting to me to see how immigrants are actually treated. She talks a lot how poor the conditions where they have to live with children are there.  As a prison for people who have committed terrible crimes, I could see this a valid place for them to stay, but for families with children, it is terrible. These kids are being brought up in terrible conditions, and it is, as she says "hindering their development.  In the article she describes this place as a room with bunkbeds and made of cinder blocks. The mothers of the children would not let their kids crawl or walk on the floors.  I would not wish a situation like this upon anyone unless they have committed a serious crime. Another big concern is about the children, and how these places are not a child care facility.  I know there might be more to the story than just these families being treated poorly, but when reading this article I couldn't help but think about the children in this situation.  A lot of the article is about taking a test and if you fail you are deported and  it is difficult for the women to receive any legal council due to the location of the facilities. But, I believe that no matter where you are from and illegal or not children should be protected.  This is not me saying parents should not be protected, but the parents know what is legal and what is not. This article is very interesting and shows people what it is like for immigrants who come into this country. If you have the time I would go read it.

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