Affirmative Action

1. Affirmative Action Reparation or Discrimination? Clint Lund—Eportfolio –Soc 2630

2. Table of Contents Questions…..3 Definition…..4 Discrimination…..5 Necessity…..6-7 Alternatives…..8 Conclusion…..9 Clint Lund—Eportfolio –Soc 2630

3. What exactly is affirmative action? • Is it fair? • Is it necessary? I have always been against affirmative action, but I recently realized that I didn’t know much about it. I was under the impression that affirmative action allowed for non-minorities to be passed up be less-qualified minorities in an attempt to make people more equal, but I wasn’t entirely sure that this was true. Affirmative Action Questions Clint Lund—Eportfolio –Soc 2630

4. According to Professor James Sterba, a strong proponent of affirmative action: • Affirmative action is “a policy of favoring qualified women, minority, or economically disadvantaged candidates over qualified men, nonminority, or economically advantaged candidates, respectively with the immediate goals of outreach, remedying discrimination, or achieving diversity, and the ultimate goals of attaining a colorblind (racially just), a gender free (sexually just), and equal opportunity.” Was I Entitled or Should I Apologize? Affirmative Action Going Forward. Allen, Anita. Journal of Ethics. Sep2011, Vol. 15 Issue 3, p253-263. 11p. Affirmative Action Defined Clint Lund—Eportfolio –Soc 2630

5. Fisher vs. University of Texas However, many would argue that in attempt to right wrongs of the past (which are many), affirmative action over-corrects and creates ne victims of discrimination. In 2003 University of Texas opted to use race-preferrence admission policies to boost diversity on campus—the result was a lawsuit. Fisher—a white woman from Texas had great credentials but not good enough to meet the standards for admission for Whites or Asians. They were, however, above the standards for admitting Black or Hispanic/Latino applicants. Fisher sued on the grounds that she had been discriminated against because of her race. The case was argued before the supreme court in October, but the Supreme Court decision is still pending. The Sad Irony of Affirmative Action. Heriot, Gail.National Affairs. Winter2013, Vol. 14, p78-93. 16p. Is Affirmative Action Discrimination? Clint Lund—Eportfolio –Soc 2630

6. The chart to the left shows the disparity between GPA’s and SAT scores of applicants to the University of Texas—the information was provided by the University in light of the Supreme Court case involving Fisher. In my opinion the data is indicative of one thing above all else: the time to level the field in terms of education is not upon entry into college, but much earlier. The Sad Irony of Affirmative ActionHeriot, Gail.National Affairs. Winter2013, Vol. 14, p78-93. 16p. Is Affirmative Action Necessary? Clint Lund—Eportfolio –Soc 2630

7. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/education/higher_education_institutions_and_enrollment.htmlhttp://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/education/higher_education_institutions_and_enrollment.html These graphs show that college attendance by race is in proportion to percentage of overall population. Proponents of affirmative action would argue that this is a direct result of affirmative action. While opponents would argue that the same end would have been achieved without it. The past cannot be changed and alternatives to past actions cannot be tested. However, considering the data displayed above, is it necessary to continue to policies of affirmative action? Is Affirmative Action Necessary? Clint Lund—Eportfolio –Soc 2630

8. Without consideration for race, averages indicate that most individuals of minority status simply would not make the cut to get into top colleges and universities (as demonstrated on slide 6), and their absence would affect the education experience of the student body as a whole. In order to protect themselves from litigation claiming discrimination, many universities have implemented an application process which focuses less on grades and scores “and more on intangible and personal attributes: having leadership skills, having the strength to overcome social and economic circumstances, or being the first in the family to seek higher education. With such careful consideration, the candidates can then be admitted (or rejected) one by one.” Affirmative Inaction: Opposition to affirmative action has drastically reduced minority enrollment at public universities; private institutions have the power and the responsibility to reverse the trend. Chace, William M. American Scholar. Winter2011, Vol. 80 Issue 1, p20-31. 12p. A more balanced approach to Affirmative Action—more than scores or skin color Clint Lund—Eportfolio –Soc 2630

9. F.A. Hayek, an Austrian economist and philosopher is quoted as saying, “There is all the difference in the world between treating people equally and attempting to make them equal.” That is an important concept to consider when trying to rifle through the breadth of information and opinions regarding Affirmative action. Based on what I read, I fear that affirmative action is an ill-conceived attempt to make people equal rather than treating them equally. I am inclined to agree with Roger Clegg at least on some levels that affirmative action “passes over better qualified students, and sets a disturbing legal, political, and moral precedent in allowing racial discrimination.” I particularly like the idea of considering intangible characteristics in college admissions/job placement rather than just scores/grades/previous school attended. I consider this to be a favorable alternative to affirmative action because it considers one’s character--something they can control--rather than race or standardized test scores. I also understand that this is costly, and colleges and universities simply don’t have the extra money to spend. One thought I had again and again--particularly as I read the arguments for affirmative action: that it is the only way minorities would attain college degrees--was that college entry is not the time to fix the disparity between minority and non-minority education. We need to do more at a far younger age, we need to promote healthy living/learning habits while children are very young. If we want to dissolve the disparity, we need teachers to do better; we need parents to do better. We need the racial gap to shrink in society not just on campus. That said, I am not advocating government intervention to achieve this. Government is usually the problem, rarely the solution, and force (the government’s sole means of persuasion) creates perceived compliance, but actually fortifies resistance--it has to be up to individuals. Affirmative Discrimination and the Bubble. Clegg, Roger. Academic Questions. Dec2011, Vol. 24 Issue 4, p403-411. 9p. A Personal Reaction to Affirmative Action Clint Lund—Eportfolio –Soc 2630