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If we can not socially engineer equality of opportunity, then how can it be reached (since racial AA is unjust to you)? Are you arguing that we should say "everyone has a chance to go to school X" and just let the chips fall where they may? Would we not have to get rid of ALL preferences for something like this to work - that is, economic, geographic, gender, athletic, legacy, first generation students, etc? What about the math grind Asian students with poor English skills? Should they not get a boost because of low verbal standardized test scores? Also, who says that this doesn't already happen? What group is NOT allowed to be present at a college?
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<p>We should try to figure out exactly what the problems are regarding current inequalities of opportunity and then solve them directly. I admit that I dont know what all the problems are. But, I know that simply dumping money and then saying, Do something wont do anything.</p>
<p>As an example, the College Board currently gives a limited number of fee waivers for those who are eligible and know how to get them. I believe that the College Board should supply an unlimited number of fee waivers for their exams to any student who comes from a family that lives at or below the poverty level.</p>
<p>As another example, I dont know what makes some schools so much worse than others. Is it lack of resources such as computers, internet, textbooks, lab materials? If so, then if the school is public, the state should provide the funding necessary to obtain those materials and should ensure that the funding goes to purchasing these materials.</p>
<p>I am not arguing that we should say everyone has a chance to go to school X. I am arguing that we should strive to ensure that everyone has a chance. I am also arguing that when we do this, we should be satisfied with let[ting] the chips fall where they may. Theres really no such thing as under-representation or over-representation if we let the chips fall by themselves. What you get is what you get. The thing is, did every chip have a chance to fall by itself? Or were some snatched out of the air? We used to snatch certain ones and let others fall, but that was over fifty years ago </p>
<p>Ideally, we should give preferences based on merit only. (Yes, Im aware that you dispute the very existence of merit.) I believe that if preferences must be given, then they should be given based on socioeconomic status as opposed to race.</p>
<p>This mysterious math grind (interesting phrase, no?) you speak of should not receive a boost to compensate for his poor English ability, even if he is an immigrant. Many immigrants work hard to develop their English, why should this math grind receive preferential treatment?</p>
<p>I dont understand the purpose of your last question.</p>
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Well, actually, many Black students stray away from Berkeley because of its small Black student population - the "natural equilibrium" has pretty much forced many in this group to steer clear of the university altogether. Just because something may be naturally reached doesnt mean its a desirable outcome, and, for many AA supporters the overwhelmingly White and Asian population at Berkeley doesnt constitute diversity. Also, I dont believe it to be all that natural as it is illegal for race to be to be a factor in admissions decisions for Californian public schools. It would truly be natural if ANYTHING could be considered when choosing a student body.
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<p>Its a shame that for many AA supporters, the overwhelmingly White and Asian student body of Berkeley doesnt constitute diversity. I guess to these many people, diversity is naught more than skin color? Such a pity.</p>
<p>Im always amazed as to how frequently racial preference supporters make remarks that justify our nations sins. It would be natural if anything could be considered when choosing a student body? So, it was natural for the anti-Semitic Ivy League admissions officers of the early twentieth century to ask their applicants what their mothers maiden names were, whether they had changed their last name, and what their religion was? It was natural for school officials to deny Oliver Browns daughter a seat at a nearby school on the basis of her race? Sorry, but I find neither of these cases natural.</p>