Affirmative Actions Have Consequences Essay example

In the reading “At the Elite Colleges” by Peter Schmidt the nature of admissions in top colleges was discussed in relation to class and race status. Schmidt states that affirmative action is often serving white populations of upper middle class females rather than those in minority races and ethnicities. This was a great relevant point, especially when considering why affirmative action was proposed and enacted in the first place. Affirmative action was created to serve those who are part of groups who had been quashed in some way by oppression. This stands in stark contrast. Colleges often make excuses for these undeserved admissions because, they are looking for future donors or are aiding an athlete. However, this is still inexcusable. On

In the controversial realms of affirmative action, the largest issue staunchly fought over is whether minorities should be given preferential treatment in the workplace and in the schools. One side declares that those in the minority group need and deserve governmental aid so that they will be on equal footing with the majority group. Opponents of affirmative action point out that setting apart groups based on their race or ethnicity is purely racism and can lead to reverse discrimination. I am against affirmative action for the aforementioned reasons, and would not consider such racism as necessary for creating a healthy society, as proponents would insist. It is my belief that affirmative action today is out of date and is

Affirmative action should be abolished because the negatives from the program far outweigh the positives. The program is doing a lot of harm to American society instead of helping.

Affirmative Action. For many Texas high school students, these two words haunt them. Their future, or at least their future at the University of Texas, depends on these words. For Abigail Noel Fisher, a 2008 graduate from Sugar Land, Texas, affirmative action and its race bias policies allegedly ruined her chances of getting into this prestigious state university. Fisher argues that race should not be a factor in college admissions processes, Fisher argues for equality. Equality in respect to race is in our constitution; it surrounds us everyday. In theory, race should be irrelevant in this day and age. Humanity has established that one race is not superior to another, so why should race matter at all in the college admissions process? Why should the University of Texas, or any other university, have that “check your race” box on their applications? Abigail Fisher, and every other person applying to the university, deserves as much opportunity as every other student of any race. When it comes to college, intelligence and character should be key to admission- not the color of the applicant’s skin. The University of Texas’ current affirmative action policy is an unfair college admissions process that the Supreme Court should ban so that admissions are based on intellectual ability in high school, national testing scores, extracurricular activities, and community service; this should be changed so that every person,

Is affirmative action in higher education needed? This question provokes a myriad of emotions. Is affirmative action antiquated and unneeded in 21st century America? Or are the racial boundaries of this country’s ancestors still in effect? America’s Declaration of Independence states, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” yet quotas, check marks, and plus factors give minority students advantages in the admission processes of the country’s universities and colleges (NARA).

Affirmative action policies are passionately debated by everyone from educators and politicians to ordinary citizens, all who hold differing opinions on both the necessity and validity of the policies. There is no doubt affirmative action is an emotional topic and deals with the

Bollinger [2003] , a 43-year-old white female applicant was rejected from the University of Michigan despite being in the 86th percentile nationally on the Law School Admissions Test. During the litigation, university officials admitted that Grutter would have been accepted into the school if she was African American, Hispanic, or Native American. The Supreme Court ultimately declared the law school’s policy to be legal in a five-to-four judgement because the justices believed it was “narrowly tailored” to create a diverse student body. The narrow tailoring system has been legalized but it has been put under heavy scrutiny. An admissions process can’t establish quotas for members of certain racial groups or have separate admissions tracks for different races. This loophole for affirmative action is inefficient

Race-conscious admissions policies (and affirmative action policies generally) are subject to strict scrutiny. This standard requires universities to demonstrate that the inclusion of race furthers a compelling governmental interest, and is narrowly tailored to achieve that interest. Of particular importance to the Court is whether “the means chosen ‘fit’ th[e] compelling goal so closely that there is little or no possibility that the motive for the classification was illegitimate racial prejudice or stereotype.” Put differently, universities must demonstrate that including race in the admissions process is necessary to enroll a diverse student body, and is accomplished through means that are reasonably calculated to achieve the educational

The phrase, "If I had only been black I would have gotten into my first-choice college” has been heard recently to explain some of the white people’s view on the topic of affirmative action in educational institutions (quoted in Wise, 2014). By first glance the programs seem as if they are favoring every race besides white because by the looks of it, it is giving the upper hand to every other group. However, by using some of the examples Tim Wise talks about in his article, “Whites Swim in Racial Preference” readers are able to see that the laws are only in place to help level the playing field for all races. Affirmative action programs are not in place to give an advantage to any single racial group but are there to help in eliminating racial profiling when applying for a job or going to college. His idea that whites are just swimming in the privileges like fishes swimming in water, totally unaware that it’s there, is a prime example of why Affirmative Action programs cannot be successful while the white privileges are still existing.

For many the subject of affirmative action is worth protesting over, however, there are a few who would love to see the existence of affirmitive action abolished. Affirmative action has always been a long debated topic with two different communites arguing very different view points. Although affirmitive action can cause friction among many different opionated people, on the other hand, the results of the practice has ensured the college educations for many of minorities in America. Should this practice be allowed during the college admissions process is the question that remains to be debated. The right to attend college is considered to be a privilege for students who are able to enroll within a university of their choice. Those who

Affirmative Action is a program that needs to be ended, and at the very least needs to be drastically changed in order for it to truly help those who need it the most. Though Affirmative Action has many supporters, there are also those who oppose it just as strongly. Nowadays, every problem that arises in our country somehow gets tied back into race. College admission is something that should be based on merit, not on the issue of racial diversity. Though diversity in the classroom is essential to good discussion, diversity doesn’t just come through race. College “students meet classmates who have very different takes on the world than their own, who devote their energies to very different enterprises, and who exemplify different values

Affirmative action and any race-positive policies should be dismantled; I disagree with affirmative action. Better stated from the debate question: like Jim Crow, affirmative action is invidious racial discrimination. Affirmative action should take the path similarly to that taken in California – become abolished. Affirmative action does discriminate on a racial level. Affirmative action implies that minorities cannot achieve a certain goal without the help of a race-positive policy, which is invidious racial discrimination. While policies developed to create diversity may (or may not) bring in diversity, the policies are damaging and create a “second-class ‘minority degree.’” (Scalia, 1979) Colleges and employers should look at substance and

We have come a long way ensuring that economic opportunity exists for all Americans; yet much work still remains to be done. This is why it would be very important that the government does not withdraw from affirmative action at this point in time. All facts should be considered before putting an end to affirmative action. Affirmative action is about fairness and not a debate about race. It is more about being allowed to participate and fully contribute in society, regardless of gender or race.

The last day of school for juniors all around America marks the onset of an ordeal the majority of students faces every year—the college process. Year after year, rigorous college applications occupy the precious time of seniors throughout the fall. For the most part, colleges reward students displaying high academic achievement when deciding who to accept and reject. These same institutions, however, highly regard one element in the admissions process over which students have absolutely no control: race. For about fifty years, affirmative action has played a prominent role in determining the futures of students across the country. Having caused controversy for decades, practicing affirmative action within the college admissions process has induced an ongoing, spirited debate about whether or not it is necessary to compensate for the historically social and educational exclusion of certain ethnic groups. This topic merits such consideration and social awareness because it directly affects the futures of all competitors in the college process and could potentially negate the groundwork

Affirmative Action has been an issue of contention since its inception during the Civil Rights struggles of mid 20th century America. Discrimination could no longer be tolerated and the Unites States government had an obligation to encourage equality at all levels of the social infrastructure. The main type of discrimination being addressed by Affirmative Action programs was racial discrimination. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines racism as: ‘a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.’ The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited discrimination of any kind, laid the foundation for the introduction of Affirmative Action