The Importance of Affirmative Action
Affirmative action is a complex issue. While it was necessary and just when implemented, its execution seems flawed. The problems with considering race in college admissions are clear in this case. However, abolishing affirmative action won't solve the bigger problems in our education system. Centuries of racial discrimination can't be undone overnight. Merely opening the gates of opportunity is not enough; we must ensure that all citizens have the ability to take advantage of those opportunities.
The Disadvantages of Affirmative Action
After 20 years, affirmative action is no longer achieving its purpose and is disadvantaging certain students. To diversify campuses, elite universities should focus on economic diversity rather than race. Legacy admissions should also be abandoned. This ruling will not affect most students of color, who need education opportunities elsewhere. While the legal arguments are complex, the goal now is to find a positive solution. Elite universities benefit from diverse classrooms, and achieving this can be done through non-racial means like affirmative action based on socioeconomic status. It's an opportunity to improve college campuses and address inherent issues. Schools should expand their definition of diversity and examine their own student bodies.
Episode AI notes
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Affirmative action was necessary and just when it was implemented. The problems presented in this case are unavoidable when race is considered in affirmative action. The existence or non-existence of affirmative action will not solve the biggest problems in the country's secondary education system. Undoing centuries of discrimination will not simply level the playing field. Opening the gates of opportunity is not enough, all citizens must have the ability to walk through those gates.
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Sandra Day O'Connor wrote about the need to sunset affirmative action 20 years ago. Affirmative action has achieved its goals of diversifying college campuses and closing the racial wealth gap, but it can disadvantage students of lower socioeconomic status and overachieving minorities. Elite universities should prioritize economic and wealth diversity over race when diversifying their campuses. Affirmative action is benefiting rich students instead of struggling descendants of slavery and Jim Crow. A policy of affirmative action based on socioeconomic status could offer more opportunities to students of color. Elite universities should also consider abandoning legacy admissions. This ruling on affirmative action will not impact most students, as only a small percentage attend elite private universities. The initial Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action focused on college diversity, not reparations. Elite universities should seek diversity through non-racial means like affirmative action based on socioeconomic status. There is an opportunity to improve college campuses now that affirmative action is effectively ended. Schools should expand their idea of campus diversity beyond race. Elite schools should address their rich and legacy-based student bodies.