Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I am torn on this issue, but lean slightly more towards doing away with it. Realistically a university campus should closely represent the demographic make-up of America and I know that some schools who do not actively participate in Affirmative Action try to admit students based on the composition of our country in order to keep things far and "equal" for everyone, but these schools tend to be privates that attract the best applicants across-the-board to begin with.
In an ideal situation removing Affirmative Action from college admissions should not affect a thing. On the other hand it speaks to culture, class, and privilege. For example; the linked article mentions the decline in Hispanic and Black students at UCB and UCLA since the State of California removed Affirmative Action from admissions to UCs and CSUs in 1996. What the article does not mention is the drastic increase of Asian students at not both of these schools, but at other UCs as well. Asians are roughly 15% of the Californian population, yet make up roughly 40% of UCBs current undergraduate student population. The same is true for UCLA. If I remember correctly, Asians account also for nearly 40% of total UC students (undergrad), Caucasians near 35%, Hispanics near 17%, and African Americans near 5%. It should also be noted that UCs and CSUs heavily favor Californian residents above everyone else. Something to the tune of 80%.
The numbers for Caucasians and African Americans more closely resemble their percentage in the larger population of the State (roughly 42% and 7%, respectively. Hispanics are 40%). Of course there is more to it than simple numbers but my point is that Michigan should fair similarly.
On one hand, a lot of these schools are more apt to shift focus to income instead of race to compensate, which will take care of some of the issue (not all, but some). I think class has been ignored way too long in terms of college access anyway, so I do welcome that shift. I'm thinking between that and an increased emphasis on class rank we'll see some leveraging?
On the other hand, I would feel better if there was more equity in outcomes across K-12 schools. I don't beleive this will encourage change on that level either... if anything a backlash is growing there too.
I will be amused if Michigan sees similar blowback like California did with the explosion in Asiain enrollment. That was highly entertaining to watch.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,269 posts, read 80,518,848 times
Reputation: 57193
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinawina
I'm with you on the mixed feelings.
On one hand, a lot of these schools are more apt to shift focus to income instead of race to compensate, which will take care of some of the issue (not all, but some). I think class has been ignored way too long in terms of college access anyway, so I do welcome that shift. I'm thinking between that and an increased emphasis on class rank we'll see some leveraging?
On the other hand, I would feel better if there was more equity in outcomes across K-12 schools. I don't beleive this will encourage change on that level either... if anything a backlash is growing there too.
I will be amused if Michigan sees similar blowback like California did with the explosion in Asiain enrollment. That was highly entertaining to watch.
Part of that explosion is the end of AA but the same is happening in other states, like here in WA. The biggest reason for the high number of Asians is the foreign students who are far more desirable because they pay much higher tuition, which helps subsidize the rates paid by resident students. The University of Washington for example is at 44% white, 24.9% Asian, 3.4% black, 14.1% International. The latter is mostly Asian which would put them at 39%. The trends are interesting:
This is better than the student body being made up of the most qualified individuals? Why?
Diversity is our strength! I'm talking about less White people diversity, not diversity of thought. Most everyone on a college campus thinks the same, but what we really need are people that look different. That's diversity. Brown and Black people around us who think exactly like we do. By we I mean the right kind of white people you find in college. The wrong kind of white people that vote republican and go to church should light themselves on fire and jump off a cliff according to many college people.
Diversity, the key to everything. As long as you look different.
diversity is our strength! I'm talking about less white people diversity, not diversity of thought. Most everyone on a college campus thinks the same, but what we really need are people that look different. That's diversity. Brown and black people around us who think exactly like we do. By we i mean the right kind of white people you find in college. The wrong kind of white people that vote republican and go to church should light themselves on fire and jump off a cliff according to many college people.
Diversity, the key to everything. As long as you look different.
To be clear, it upheld the ban on affirmative action based on race. It is not clear that this holding can be applied to affirmative action based on income, for example.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
