Alan Bakke claimed that he was treated unfairly when he was not admitted to the University of California at Davis Medical School because of the special quota for qualified applicants from disadvantaged minorities. In addressing this question one must first understand what affirmative action is and the different types of affirmative action currently in place. According to Dr Miller, affirmative action is a selection process intended to make the chances of success of members of a targeted group in a competition greater than they would be if selectors were not aware of group-membership. When discussing affirmative action one needs to look at the two types currently in place--weak affirmative action programs and strong affirmative action programs. Weak affirmative ... Showed first 120 words of 1699 Size (words) ...

... Continuing with another 115 out of 1699 Size (words) ...unfairly handicapped in the competition for qualifications. Essentially, such affirmative action programs are designed to equal the level playing field, by "neutralizing any advantage a candidate might have because he or she may be white" (163). If this was the case, which I believe to be true for Dr. Charles, the African American who allegedly took Bakkes spot, as well as the many other minorities admitted to the program then, no, Bakke was not treated unfairly.

Therefore, in looking at society as a whole and at this individual case no Alan Bakke was not treated unfairly, assuming such assumptions involving the promotion of the general welfare overall benefit to all were made, that ...Essay still continues 100 more words...