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CHAPTER 6 • UNDERREPRESENTATION IN SCIENCE CAREERS 61

that the University of Texas Law School could

not take race into consideration when admit-

ting students unless such action was neces-

sary to remedy past discrimination by the

school. Filling fixed minority quotas is no

longer an acceptable admissions policy.

In 2001, providing specialized opportunity

to underserved/underrepresented popula-

tions is still acceptable legally, but may not be

for long. In March 2001, a White-owned

Colorado business complained that small

business bonuses given to contractors who

subcontract to minority businesses discrimi-

nate against non-minorities (Adarand

Constructors, Inc. v. Pena). In the meantime,

Georgia Power Company (April 2001) faces a

potential class action discrimination lawsuit

due to lack of fair promotion of African-

Americans in their company. Company exec-

utives reported that they were unaware that

the presence of hangman’s nooses through-

out company property was a racial slur

against African-Americans.

It is sometimes difficult to be fair and hon-

est. However, the law is not meant to be fair;

it is meant to be just. Equal opportunity will

never be equal as long as selections and deci-

sions involve human beings who knowingly

or unknowingly permit familiar favoritisms

to creep into decision-making. For example,

honesty is compromised when collegial

and/or familial networks (the old boy sys-

tem), economic status or one’s ability to easi-

ly pay, group stereotypes, the way one looks,

speaks or walks, or other comfortable famil-

iarities influence the decision-making

process. We must all deal with this truth,

making it incumbent upon us to participate

constructively in decision-making and the

formation of the law.

The Shape of the River,^1 a book by William

Bowen and Derek Bok, is a good resource for

those studying “the long-term consequences

of considering race in college and university

admissions.” The authors state, “there is a

collective concern that we are failing to

develop to its fullest, the human potential of

the country and a growing realization that

our society, with its evermore diverse popu-

lation, cannot ultimately succeed as a

democracy if we fail to close the gaps in

opportunity that continue to be associated

with race.” These studies conclude that

avoiding a short term lack of insight and

making provisions to consider underprivi-

leged and diversified populations ultimately

strengthen most experiences and persons

involved on both sides. That is, it is a posi-

tive developmental factor for both Whites

and Non-Whites.

Some scientists don’t want to be bothered

with all this political “stuff.” They just want

to be successful in learning the hows and

whys of the experimental world. However,

external obstacles may emerge, providing

non-objective barriers to success that most

scientists have not been adequately trained to

handle. Some scientists who are not like the

mainstream are faced with special barriers to

which the mainstream must become sensi-

tized to even know that such obstacles exist.

The law is not meant to be fair;

it is meant to be just.

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR CELL BIOLOGY

Some scientists don’t want to be

bothered with all this political

“stuff.” They just want to be

successful in learning the hows

and whys of the experimental

world.