From: Keeley McGill
Email: kmcgill@udel.edu
Course: EDUC 258; Cultural Diversity, Schooling, and Teaching
College: University of Delaware
Instructor: Eugene Matusov
ClassWeb: http://ematusov.soe.udel.edu/
Date: 12/15/99
Time: 3:43:54 AM
Remote Name: 128.175.107.193
Abstract:
This paper explores the issue of racial preferencing in college admissions. It provides arguments for and against such practices with its final conclusion being that racial preferences are necessary at many institutions of higher education to ensure a diverse student body. The goal of this argument is to demonstrate to the reader the social and academic benefits of a racially diverse student body.
Paper:
In the immediate aftermath of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, most Americans seemed willing to support academic programs, grants, and special consideration given to blacks who sought the opportunity to attend college. Thirty years later, however, many Americans are starting to change their minds. Some feel that the racial consideration given to blacks in college admissions has caused universities to create lower standards for blacks and other minorities. They claim that this lowers the admissions rates for more highly qualified whites and also explains why blacks have a higher college dropout rate. Recently, California officially outlawed affirmative action in the areas of employment, public education, and public contracting. Three years ago in Hopwood v. Texas, a federal court ruled that public schools in Texas could no longer use race as a factor in admissions. Since then, minority enrollments in competitive state universities in both Texas and California have decreased significantly. When Washington passed in similar measure in November 1998, it became evident that many other states may be soon to follow. At the same time, many universities are now under strong pressure to diversify, especially those schools that receive public funding, since many argue that if a school receives public funds, its population should reflect the racial composition of the public. Statistics show that many universities suffer from a significant racial imbalance in the student body and this entire dilemma has led many universities to reconsider their admissions procedures.
It is evident that racial consideration in college admissions has recently become a highly controversial issue. Opponents argue that by diversifying the student body at institutions of higher education standards will have to be lowered, thus sacrificing the academic credibility of these universities. Advocates view diversity as an essential component to education and support measures to extend opportunities for college education to minorities. Despite opposition, racial consideration in admissions is necessary to ensure a diverse student population and also beneficial to all students on college campuses, regardless of race. Social scientists and the U.S. Census Bureau predict a major shift in the racial composition of the American population in the very near future. While whites currently compose for 74 percent of the population, blacks 12 percent, Hispanics 10 percent and Asians 3 percent, Hispanics will likely surpass blacks as the largest minority group early in the next century. And by the year 2050 Hispanics are predicted to account for 25 percent of the population, blacks 14 percent, Asians 8 percent, and whites 53 percent (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpsrv/national/longterm/meltingpot/melt0222.htm). While the population of U.S. citizens is rapidly changing, this diversity is often not reflected in the student bodies of many universities.
Universities that have done away with affirmative action claim that they have enacted measures which will still ensure that their campuses will provide a diverse experience. These schools are now using a “class based” approach to promote diversity. Preference is given to students from poorer backgrounds, regardless of race. In theory, this system sounds fair, but there are two major implications. First, poor blacks and Latinos tend to have lower standardized test scores than poor whites. While test scores are not the only factor in college admissions, they do pull a significant weight in the decision. Poor whites will most likely push poor minorities out of the admissions pool.
Second, not all minorities are poor, so middle and upper-class minorities who have competitive test scores and high school GPAs may not be well represented at these institutions because they have to compete with a larger pool of equally qualified whites. Class diversity and racial diversity are two different issues. A school full of students from various economic backgrounds is not much of a culturally diverse experience if all of the students are white. Racial divisions often override social class divisions and the economic status of a student is often not as obvious as a student’s race. Many people have questioned the actual benefits of a racially diverse educational setting. They feel that colleges should be most concerned with recruiting the most academically gifted students, regardless of race.
However, the college experience encompasses more than pure academics. Social relationships are formed and diversity aides social stimulation. Diversifying a student body makes college a multicultural experience for all students, not just for the thousands of blacks who are currently immersed in white culture at predominately white institutions, but also for the whites who may be meeting a black person for the first time. This is an opportunity for all students to learn how to interact with others who are from different racial and ethnic backgrounds and perhaps destroy some stereotypes. This is crucial since the “real world” is a diverse place. Also, when schools make an effort to diversify, it extends an opportunity for education to students of all races.
College is becoming almost mandatory for those who ever expect to make a decent living. To eliminate a significant number of minorities from the pool of admitted college students will set many of them deeper into the state of poverty in which they are already over represented. Those who do agree that diversity is an important part of the college experience, sometimes argue that considering race in college admissions is not an effective or fair way to go about achieving such an environment. However, racial discrimination within the educational system still exists and without preferences, many minority students with academic potential will miss out on educational opportunities.
Unfortunately, many minority students attend poor schools that do not have rigorous academic programs to prepare them for college. Some argue that whites also suffer from poor schooling, but statistically, blacks and Hispanics are enrolled in these inferior schools in larger proportions. Also, many middle class blacks who attend good schools often have to deal with racism within the educational system. Some teachers are reluctant to recommend black students into honors and advanced placement courses because of the stereotype that blacks are lazy, unintelligent, and not goal-oriented.
Racism within schools is a problem that often does not get addressed, since many would like to believe that it does not exist. However, racism does still exist, and many black students of all economic classes who attend predominately white schools have experienced both social and academic setbacks. Also, a higher percentage of minority students come from single-parent families or families where one or both parents does not have a college degree. These students are more likely to be in a financial struggle, often having to work jobs during the school year and sacrificing their grades just to get the bills paid at home. Minority students are more likely to have to deal with racial and social class discrimination.
Opponents to racial preferences claim that considering these factors simply is not fair because America is supposed to be a meritocracy. However, we must not overlook the fact that at many universities having an alum in the family or a wealthy parent willing to pay full tuition often makes one much more likely to get accepted and whites are more likely to be eligible to take advantage of these perks. Those who argue that race should not be considered as a merit factor should take into consideration that alumni status and coming from a wealthy family are just as arbitrary as race. It has also been argued that racial consideration in college admissions is a form of “reverse racism”.
According to Stanley Fish giving preferences to minorities, African Americans in particular can not be considered reverse racism: “The hostility of one group stems not from any wrong done to it but from its wish to protect its ability to deprive citizens of their voting rights, to limit access to educational institutions, to prevent entry into the economy except at the lowest and most menial levels, and to force members of the stigmatized group to ride in the back of the bus. The hostility of the other group is the result of these actions, and whereas hostility and racial anger are unhappy facts wherever they are found, a distinction must surely be made between the ideological hostility of the oppressors and the experience-based hostility of those who have been oppressed.” (http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/race/fish.htm)
It is evident that the current admissions processes need to be reformed. The class-based approach does not necessarily ensure a racially diverse campus community. Diversity socially and culturally benefits students of all races while providing educational opportunities to minority groups who have traditionally been oppressed. Minority students often have to deal with inferior educational systems or discrimination within more accredited schools. The pressing question seems to be which racial groups deserve preferences and how long should these preferences remain in place.
Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans would benefit most from racial consideration in college admissions. Aside from various social and economic problems, blacks in America today are still suffering from the aftershock of slavery and Jim Crow laws. Blacks have had a history of educational discrimination. During slavery, it was illegal to teach a black person to read. Not many years ago, schools were still segregated and blacks had to learn in inferior facilities. This may not have directly affected the present generation of young blacks, but they are still suffering from the repercussions. Many of their parents and grandparents are still not well educated because when they were growing up, education was not a priority for blacks. Because of this lack of education, their families may not have the economic resources that many of their white classmates enjoy.
Many Hispanics are also in a desperate situation. Language barriers high high school dropout rates have stigmatized the entire group. Native Americans have also suffered many historical setbacks. Some may argue that all of these problems occurred in the past and that we can not compensate people who are alive today for the mistakes of our ancestors. However, these historical setbacks are more than just history. For many minorities they are alive and well and they live through racism. Stereotypes, stigmas, and racist thoughts can deter even the most intelligent and successful minority person in America.
It may be argued that other ethnic groups experience language barriers and have problems assimilating to American culture, but in most cases these people are more accepted than Americans from racial minorities. Perhaps it is a racial issue, not a nationality issue. As for how long these preferences should remain in place, there is no definite answer. The most accurate response is that preferences should stay in place until people of all races have an equal opportunity to take advantage of an educational system that prepares them for college. This is a long-term goal and in order to achieve it, short-term plans must be implemented.
There are various ways to recruit and admit minority students which can be used my almost any college at any time. First, colleges should continue to use current recruitment tactics. Special recruitment efforts, such as phone calls, lists of top minority scorers on standardized tests, direct mailings, and high school visits would spark interest in many potential minority applicants. Race may be used as a tie breaker when the admissions staff is faced with two applicants of equal qualification. Some colleges should also sponsor summer programs for minority high school students who have the potential to be accepted to college, but may not be on the right track academically.
Schools that have a strong need to integrate should also set aside merit scholarships to ensure that top minority applicants are allotted a financial package which will lure them to the university. Many middle and upper middle class minorities are often accepted to various competitive schools, but make their decision based on merit scholarships, since they are not eligible for need-based awards. While college admissions staffs are doing their part in recruiting minorities, high schools and elementary schools also need to reform their curriculums so that all of their students are prepared to attend college. These efforts, most of which are commonly used by many schools, have typically resulted in increasing minority enrollment in colleges, but in order to yield even higher minority populations, standards of merit should be broadened.
It has been proven that traditional measures of merit, such as standardized test scores and high school GPA, often underestimate the abilities of applicants. Other factors such as community involvement, domestic situations, and even personal interviews with applicants should be taken into consideration. By the current recruitment efforts and admissions standards, middle and upper class minority students are likely to be admitted into college. However, some lower income minority students need to be examined more closely before they are automatically thrown out of the admissions pool. Often, the cause of these student’s low test scores and GPAs is not a lack of ability, but a lack of opportunity.
Given the chance, many of these students will perform just as well, or better than college students who possessed more traditional merit factors. With all of these measures in place, America will eventually see a diverse college student body that is both academically prepared and reflective of the American people. Diversity can not be achieved overnight, but it may not ever be achieved at all if we decide to ignore race on college applications. Considering race in college admissions is not about exclusion, it is about inclusion and in the long run, it benefits everyone.
Bibliography
“One Nation Indivisible: Is It History?” William Booth. 22 February 1998. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/meltingpot/melt0222.htm
“Reverse Racism, or How the Pot Got To Call the Kettle Black” Stanley Fish. November 1993. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/race/fish.htm