Affirmative Action

fabrizio
Mon, 14 Feb 2005 17:34:31 +0000

So, tenisghs, your solution to “lack of representation” is to impose more lenient standards for blacks in order to achieve higher “diversity”? If I straw manned you, please forgive me. But, that’s how I interpreted your last post.

If you do that, then you hurt the blacks who get in through merit. You lump them in with the students who got in because of less strict criteria. That does not help.

Sybbie, I agree with you. Performance on standardized tests (e.g. SAT, AB, IB) is but one factor in admissions. But, all you said just corrobated what I was saying.

Asians are represented in the UC system because there are a lot of them in California and they are the BEST students there. Best in multiple meanings, test scores, EC devotion, paid work, volunteer work, and so forth.

In fact, just to make sure I am not misunderstood, I agree with 90% of your last sentence. But, I’d like to add one more descriptive phrase to the last person on your list.

The poor inner city black kid who is:

a. Devoted to contributing positively to his city (volunteer work)
b. A good student (scores as good as anyone else)
c. Responsible (takes a paid job)

If you want these students to be more present in campuses, I’m all for it! But, don’t just pick anyone. Pick the best of the best.