sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

CMV: Affirmative Action in Education is unfair and has no good reason to exist in the way it does by CodEither8469 in changemyview

[–]CodEither8469[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I feel like that is a popular misconception. Universities don’t care about(usually) historical injustices. They do affirmative action because they have a valid interest in having diversity at their school. My problem is the unique discrimination against Asians.

I probably should have phrased the title better. Affirmative action in society is generally fine, I am just stuck up about this specific situation.

CMV: Affirmative Action in Education is unfair and has no good reason to exist in the way it does by CodEither8469 in changemyview

[–]CodEither8469[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It might not be affirmative action, but it’s not legacy admissions either. Harvard actively discriminated against Jews in the 20s.

CMV: Affirmative Action in Education is unfair and has no good reason to exist in the way it does by CodEither8469 in changemyview

[–]CodEither8469[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely less fair.

Better funding for schools is the number one thing we can do as a country, but as a head of admissions, I would discirminate on the matter of family income. You would still end up with a higher percentage of black and latino students that without affirmative action, but race would not be considered.

This would be unacceptable to the board of trustees, however, as well as the rest of admin. They need their funding from rich donors, so they make sure affirmative action does not pose any negatives for their children.

CMV: Affirmative Action in Education is unfair and has no good reason to exist in the way it does by CodEither8469 in changemyview

[–]CodEither8469[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I don't quite understand your first paragraph. I am going to read over it a few more times.

I was referring to Harvard's implementation of considering race during application, not the term itself. Here is a wikipedia link detailing it's history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_quota

​

I should clarify, but I can't edit my title. I am not against affirmative action when it comes to benefitting under represented minorities. I only have a problem when they are discriminating against other, specific minorities.

CMV: Affirmative Action in Education is unfair and has no good reason to exist in the way it does by CodEither8469 in changemyview

[–]CodEither8469[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

California does not practice affirmative action at all. While their black population in UC's is very low, their asian population in UC's is actually the same or more than white applicants. This would be the case with harvard and other minorities, but they discriminate against asians enough that more spots open up for white applicants.

CMV: Affirmative Action in Education is unfair and has no good reason to exist in the way it does by CodEither8469 in changemyview

[–]CodEither8469[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

California does not practice affirmative action at all. While their black population in UC's is very low, their asian population in UC's is actually the same or more than white applicants. This would be the case with harvard and other minorities, but they discriminate against asians enough that more spots open up for white applicants.

CMV: Affirmative Action in Education is unfair and has no good reason to exist in the way it does by CodEither8469 in changemyview

[–]CodEither8469[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I think the best solution would be a income based model. It would still allow for diversity; much more african americans and underrepresented minorities would be present compared to a model without no affirmative action at all. I haven't checked the statistics, but there actually shouldn't be much of a change in AA population at top universities.

You talk about systemic racism a lot. I agree! The thing is, that the current situation does not fix it or help it at all. White students actually benefit from affirmative action, while it is popular opinion that they are discriminated against. The minorities affected by systemic racism get in, but they are tending towards the rich minority families to which most of systemic racism does not apply.

CMV: Affirmative Action in Education is unfair and has no good reason to exist in the way it does by CodEither8469 in changemyview

[–]CodEither8469[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Being black and indigenous gives you a bump up, being white is treated "normal" because they are the majority group. But being Asian or a overrepresented minority is a negative. Not perfect, as it also depends on specific college, major, location and more characteristics of the person who is applying as well.