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Reverse discrimination

Affirmative action in college admissions is an inherently prejudiced practice

LAST WEEK, I chided the University Judiciary Committee for placing too much emphasis on race by surveying its membership to determine the percentage of minorities. UJC’s actions are indicative of the larger problem of affirmative action. Recently the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights released a letter instructing colleges not to use affirmative action in admissions processes and if they do so, they must justify it to the OCR. I see no problem with requiring colleges to supply a legitimate reason for using racist policies in their admissions process. The NAACP disagrees. It appears that discrimination is fine, as long as it not against a minority group.
Stephanie J. Monroe, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, stated in the letter that the Supreme Court, “provides broad parameters to guide postsecondary institutions through the constitutional and Title VI issues that arise if race is used in admissions.” In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled on two affirmative action cases brought against the University of Michigan: Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger. Gratz applied to Michigan’s undergraduate program which used quotas in the admissions process, while Grutter addressed affirmative action in admissions processes of the law school. The Supreme Court decided in favor of Gratz but against Grutter, stating that affirmative action was fine, but using quotas was not. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor voted to uphold the legality of affirmative action in Grutter but also said, “We expect that 25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest approved today.”
Maurice Apprey, Dean of the Office of African-American Affairs at the University, said that Justice O’Connor is presenting a “challenge to improve K-12 programs, so that students will be ready in due course.” He also said, “It is in the self-interest of the University to complement the moral, legal and ethical issues that come under this domain.” The University does use affirmative action in its admissions policies, according to Associate Dean of Admissions Greg Roberts. He cited the 2003 Supreme Court Ruling as justification enough for the practice, and added that the University is “more than happy to comply” with the OCR’s justification policy.
The NAACP is concerned that by requiring justification for affirmative action, the OCR is moving to end affirmative action completely. In an interview with The Cavalier Daily, Anurima Bhargava, NAACP Legal Defense Fund assistant counsel, said, “What OCR is trying to do is create a chilling, intimidating effect on efforts to promote diversity.” Apparently the only diversity recognized by the NAACP is race-based diversity. There are other forms, such as socio-economic, that are a better measure of prospective students. If the concern is that African-Americans are typically poorer and have fewer opportunities than their Caucasian peers, a race-blind admissions process would not inherently ignore these factors.
Looking at parents’ income and if a student’s parents went to college doesn’t require a racial profile. A first-generation college student should be rewarded for his or her efforts. Without the advice of college-educated parents as a guide throughout school, lower grades would be acceptable. Looking at the courses offered at a student’s high school and what course load is chosen from those offerings is a good indication of a student’s drive and ability to succeed, even if the applicant’s schedule is not loaded with AP courses, since at that school, AP courses are unavailable.
Things like socio-economic status and fewer opportunities for advancement can be discovered without looking at a person’s race and would be a better indicator for preference than race alone. Race is an arbitrary factor to use to evaluate prospective students since it is not skin color that constitutes diversity, but life experiences. I understand and support the fact that the University wants to bring together people of all different experiences to promote growth and a greater understanding of the rest of the world. Beliefs must be challenged in order for them to ring true, and diversity is a large part of that. But racist policies benefit no one and are a sore spot for those they discriminate against.
Eliminating affirmative action is about ending discrimination for everyone. College applicants should be evaluated on the basis of having made the most of the opportunities before them — if a student had many opportunities, that student should meet higher expectations than someone who did not. It would be impossible to evaluate all prospective students on a level playing field. There are many reasons for one person to have a higher GPA than another — an after school job, varsity sports, or having to look after younger siblings while parents worked. People cannot be reduced to numbers, but they cannot be reduced to their race either. Using race to give one student an advantage over the other when they are otherwise equal is still discrimination, despite what affirmative action attempts to overcome. Roberts said there is no timeline for phasing out affirmative action at the University. Dean Apprey said that Justice O’Connor has a point and that, over time, needs will change. There is no need to wait 25 years to eliminate racist affirmative action policies in admissions — affirmative action can be eliminated right now.
Annette Robertson is a Cavalier Daily Viewpoint Writer.

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