No, I'm saying that the playing field will NEVER be level if you keep slanting it in favor of one side. My argument from above still stands. Giving an advantage to minority students (of whatever kind) by saying "all things equal, you get in" is STILL saying "we'll help you as much as we can, because you need it". It emphasizes differences rather than smoothing them over, it keeps in the minds of minority students that they're somehow lesser than the majority, and it says they don't need to be better or smarter because the laws will always lend a helping hand.
Here's an example. In undergrad a guy I knew was on a full scholarship, but did absolutely nothing with it. He was a waste of space. Why did he get this scholarship? Because he was 1/16th Cherokee. He didn't deserve it, I don't think he had pressing financial need above and beyond that of other, more qualified students, and he wasted the chance. Why should he have had it when better students than he needed it more and would have used it better?
Using race (or gender) as a criterion for ANYTHING shouldn't be allowed, not on the pro side or the con side. If you weren't hired for something because you are a woman, you'd be pissed, right? What about the guy who's not hired because he's male? "All things being equal, we prefer women." Yeah, that's sexism. "All things being equal, we'll let in the black student." That's racism. Same thing as "We don't let them darkies in here." It's using race as a deciding factor, and it's bullshit.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
branchandroot
Re: unfair advantages?
Date: 2006-11-01 04:24 pm (UTC)Here's an example. In undergrad a guy I knew was on a full scholarship, but did absolutely nothing with it. He was a waste of space. Why did he get this scholarship? Because he was 1/16th Cherokee. He didn't deserve it, I don't think he had pressing financial need above and beyond that of other, more qualified students, and he wasted the chance. Why should he have had it when better students than he needed it more and would have used it better?
Using race (or gender) as a criterion for ANYTHING shouldn't be allowed, not on the pro side or the con side. If you weren't hired for something because you are a woman, you'd be pissed, right? What about the guy who's not hired because he's male? "All things being equal, we prefer women." Yeah, that's sexism. "All things being equal, we'll let in the black student." That's racism. Same thing as "We don't let them darkies in here." It's using race as a deciding factor, and it's bullshit.