Affirmative action is a topic that has recently bubbled back to the surface of controversy.
On Monday, the Supreme Court decided to hear two cases against the University of Michigan’s law school and undergraduate admissions.
In one case, a white woman claims she was denied admission to the law school under the umbrella of affirmative action.
In another case, a federal judge upheld the universities decision to use race as a deciding factor in the admission’s process.
Affirmative action is basically a number system set up to ensure minorities are given an equal opportunity in colleges and employment.
My argument is this: isn’t it discrimination anyway if we choose one group over another because of the color of their skin?
A growing number of institutions are trying to improve race relations and spending millions of dollars in their quest. They argue that they wish to produce graduates who are culturally diverse.
There is nothing wrong with learning about other cultures or teaching someone about your own, but why should colleges be worried about how many African-American, Hispanic or Asian students they have? Shouldn’t the emphasis and the money go toward improving the education and learning environment?
There has been no scientific evidence supporting affirmative action. Reports indicate that once minority students arrive on campus they feel alienated.
Colleges such as Dartmouth have gone so far as to establish what they call affinity houses to correct this problem. These houses are set up by race. It is designed to be a place where they can be comfortable and learn more about their ethnicity.
OK … so once the colleges get the minority students there, they separate them from the other students according to race.
I thought the whole point was to promote cultural diversity? How are they promoting it when they separate the races? We should shove them all into one place. That would make the students more culturally diverse.
The main problem with the lawsuits involving affirmative action in our judicial system right now is that it is the white students who are filing the complaints.
The white students are being shoved aside to let students of minorities into the schools because the numbers must be met.
Why should we put a number on minority enrollment? I say it should be the person with the best qualifications for the task.
According to a study conducted by Harvard, the institutions that use affirmative action heavily often produce graduates who are no better than the rest of the graduates across the board. The same study shows that professors have not altered classroom discussions or assignments because of affirmative action.
I propose we get rid of the questions on the entrance paperwork that have anything to do with race, gender or sexual preference. Your name and qualifications should suffice.
As far as promoting cultural diversity, that begins at home and in our primary education. I do agree with offices like the Office of Multicultural Affairs. It helps students of different backgrounds feel comfortable, and it provides assistance when needed.
But I don’t agree with skin color being an edge in competition.
One great thing about the United States is that anyone who has the desire and drive can accomplish whatever they wish. It should also apply to colleges. If a person wants to go to college then he or she must fulfill the prerequisites of that goal. I’m sure that you won’t be denied admission if you give it your best.
Using the color of skin, no matter what color it might be, constitutes discrimination.
I think sometimes we forget that America is a great melting pot, and that all of us are from different races. Our culture is one.
We are Americans and being culturally diverse is what this country is known for, but there shouldn’t be a law that separates us. America should consider the “parts to a whole” not “the whole to parts.

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