The real question is–what to make of that? Maguire used the numbers to argue that black academic achievements had been “far inferior to those of whites” and to suggest that the university was lowering its standards to recruit blacks. But Georgetown Dean Judith Areen said group LSATs scores “tell nothing about what individuals can and will achieve. " Affirmative action is designed to redress not only historical injustices but current impediments to black advancement–including some, like poor high-school education, that lead to lower test scores. The school assesses other factors, like recommendations and work experience, to ensure that all students are “qualified.” Maguire admits his own LSAT score (39) may not have been enough to get him in if Georgetown hadn’t considered his three years in the Peace Corps. He now says that he supports affirmative action as a “historical necessity” and only wanted to stir debate. That goal, at least, he met.
