Whites Manipulate Racial Quotas in Order to Get Into Medical School

09/25/2017 - 10h39

Dozens of white students have been getting into medical school at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) - one of the most prestigious schools in the country - by manipulating racial quotas.

The complaints, which have been put forth by students, have also been backed by the black movement as well as student organizations.

The university has stated that it is aware of possible misconduct and that it intends to improve its affirmative-action selection process, while also investigating official complaints.

UFMG has not disclosed how many cases are under review, but the university has declared that if it concludes that a student has cheated the system, then it will cancel that student's enrollment. The investigation is in its final stages.

The most disturbing case is that of Vinicius Loures, 23. Despite having identified as black, the student has blonde hair, white skin and light-colored eyes. When approached for an interview, the student said that he "has nothing to say on the matter".

When candidates participating in the UFMG selection process identify as black, brown or indigenous, they get to dispute a vacancy among those within the same category.

The cut-off grade on the nationwide standardized exam within such categories can sometimes fall 28 points below the cut-off grade applied for candidates enrolled in the regular selection process.

On top of a student's self-declared identity, the university will start to demand a formal letter in which candidates will explain why they consider themselves black, brown or indigenous on a sociological level.

From 2018 onward, all graduate school programs will also implement affirmative action, which will contemplate somewhere between 20% to 50% of all vacancies.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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	Alexandre Rezende/Folhapress
	Complaints have been backed by the black movement and student organizations