The Bakke decision, referring to the 1978 Supreme Court case on affirmative action, is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /bæk kə dɪˈsɪʒ ən/. The first syllable is pronounced as the word "back" but with a short "a" sound. The second syllable is pronounced as "kuh" with a slight schwa sound before the final syllable "shun". The spelling of this word may seem straightforward, but the use of IPA helps to ensure accurate pronunciation and communication.
The Bakke decision refers to a landmark ruling by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke in 1978. This decision addressed affirmative action policies in higher education admissions, specifically focusing on racial preferences. The central issue in the case revolved around a white applicant named Allan Bakke who had been twice denied admission to the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, despite having higher grades and test scores than some minority applicants who were admitted through a special admissions program.
In a fragmented decision, the Supreme Court held that the rigid use of racial quotas in college admissions was unconstitutional and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. However, the Court also determined that race could be considered as a factor in the admissions process, as long as it was one factor among many and not the sole determinant of admission.
The Bakke decision effectively established the concept of affirmative action as a means to promote diversity in educational institutions, while also recognizing the importance of individual rights and equal protection under the law. It allowed universities to consider race as a factor when making admissions decisions, but it prohibited the use of strict racial quotas. This ruling has had a significant impact on affirmative action policies and continues to shape debates and legal interpretations related to diversity, equality, and access in higher education.