A recent viral photo of Texas Longhorn students celebrating their victory against Ohio State has sparked a discussion. The attention stemmed from Bo French, a Republican candidate for Texas railroad commissioner, who made comments about the racial diversity of the cheering section.
French’s social media post indicated concern over the racial composition, pointing specifically to an increased presence of non-white students, particularly those of Indian heritage. He followed this with remarks about the impact on Texas families struggling to gain admission to the University of Texas, implying a preference for foreign students over Texans.
His statements received backlash from several conservative figures. Radio personality Erick Erickson criticized the infiltration of white nationalist sentiments within the Republican Party. Political strategist Karl Rove expressed intentions to vote for French’s opponent. Ben Shapiro highlighted a conflict, pointing out that Vice President Vance, a key Republican figure, has an Indian family, which contradicts the notion of opposing Indian representation.
This debate touches on a broader discussion about race-blind admissions. Conservative legal efforts have worked to eliminate affirmative action, with significant victories. The Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University in 2023 marked the end of race-based criteria in admissions.
The decision was rooted in efforts to prevent universities from selecting students based on racial considerations. This aligns with Texas Republicans’ actions to end race-conscious admissions, such as Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.
Without racial criteria, universities admit the most talented students based on academic performance. This means that high-achieving groups, including Asians and Indians, often fill a large number of spots due to their strong scores and grades.
French and others sharing his view oppose this outcome, mirroring arguments of those who previously supported race-based admissions for diversity’s sake. The principle that admission should not consider race is a key accomplishment of conservative and libertarian movements.
Universities now admit students solely on merit, ensuring fairness and individual achievement. Resistance to this system, while also opposing progressive race-based practices, aligns with white nationalist ideologies, prompting some conservatives to distance themselves from these views.
Robby Soave is a co-host at The Hill’s commentary show “Rising” and senior editor at Reason Magazine. This column reflects his views on recent discussions around race and university admissions.