Affirmative Action

Although I know my views on affirmative action are highly impractical, I think they are relevant with President Bush’s recent response to the University of Michigan case. It is based on two assumptions: first that a minority is an under-represented ethic group, such as Chinese, Hispanic, African, or Native American in relation to the majority population, and second, that the minority person in question has come from an unstable environment.

Any person belonging to a minority has the capabilities to make himself or herself the equal of any other applicant by acknowledging how the hardships they have experienced have made them responsible and thoughtful young adults, in fact, more so. Why should taking care of your little brother or taking a minimum wage job really be any different than being a member of a speech and debate team? Why should a 4.5 GPA be any better than a 3.5 GPA when the first goes to a wealthy private school, has three tutors, a nanny to alleviate any household duties, a soccer mom, and a car to go to every extra-curricular, while the second goes to a largely segregated school where 50% of the students won't pursue a college education, where there is a shortage of books, where he or she is required to take care of his mom and two brothers and sisters, and who would rather not walk through dangerous streets to go to an extra-curricular activity? These are starkly contrasting images, but they are entirely true. The point is affirmative action is unnecessary. The quota system should be unnecessary. Admissions officers should not base every applicant against a standard of typicality; they should base their judgment on the background of the individual and how that has contributed to who they are today. The Universities themselves need to reconsider what qualities denote intelligence and motivation.

But like I said, this is unpractical for two reasons: first, most minorities won’t even consider a college education after high school, second, how can you be sure universities will consider such applicants? How can you be sure the universities will be responsible?

So, yes, affirmative action is necessary. If I can make the assumption than an African-American from Chicago has persevered through the crumbiest of conditions, then colleges can to, and they can allot that African-American two extra points in place of money and a car and a clean neighborhood. The quota systems too are necessary until the condition of minority groups improves a little. It remains to the universities themselves and the education system to do this.

As for the constitutionality of it: How constitutional was the Chinese Exclusion Act? Or Andrew Jackson’s complete and utter ignorance of the supreme court decision allowing Native Americans to be an independent people? And what about the Patriot Act?

In conclusion, Choking on pretzels is not cool; Choking on words is even worse.