<p>Some interesting research I dug up about affirmative action if you are interested. </p>
<p>?I think we're at a state school, and we sort of owe it to the state of California to reflect its diversity.? ? Berkeley student during scandal that only one African-American was admitted one year </p>
<p>"This is still segregation. This is discrimination against whites and females. This is fighting desegregation with segregation." ? Aimee Bogrow, who sued U of Georgia for rejecting her because she was white and won</p>
<p>PROS:</p>
<ol>
<li> Currently Asians and Caucasians are discriminated in the college process.
a. A study released in October by the Center for Equal Opportunity, an advocacy group opposing race-conscious admissions, showed that in 2005 Asian-Americans were admitted to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, at a much lower rate (54 percent) than black applicants (71 percent) and Hispanic applicants (79 percent) ? despite median SAT scores that were 140 points higher than Hispanics and 240 points higher than blacks.
b. According to a January 9, 2001 article from CNN, there are many cases where minorities are favored over Caucasians, leaving many qualified candidates out of colleges. One such victim was Aimee Bogrow, who sued the University of Georgia and won. Others are not so lucky. According to the article, as much as 10% of those admitted are chosen for criteria other than grades and academic merit; there are quotas for minority students, which leave out Caucasians. </li>
<li> Financial need is no longer directly correlated to minority status, and therefore race should not be the issue.
a. While at one point being black or Hispanic meant having a lower income, this is quickly changing. According to data from the US Census Bureau, there are many more factors to take into consideration such as location and whether parents are immigrants. For example, the average income in the South is several thousands of dollars less than the average income for the rest of the country, and first-generation American families generally make less than established families, regardless of race. Therefore, it is unfair to associate race as sole obstacle towards attaining a higher degree.
b. Furthermore, according to a 2004 Reuters Report, the poverty rate rose for only one group -- non-Hispanic whites -- which had an 8.6 percent poverty rate for 2004 compared with 8.2 percent in 2003. The poverty rate declined for Asians and remained unchanged for blacks and Hispanics. Yet in the eyes of an admissions officer, these people are white, regardless of ability to afford college. </li>
<li> Quotas prevent many capable students from achieving their full potential at top institutions.
a.<br>
b. Furthermore, qualified minority students would still attend college even without affirmative action. NBER (National Bureau of Economic Research) Associates David Card and Alan Krueger report that the college application decisions of highly qualified minority students are "not very sensitive to changes in the racial and ethnic composition of the student bodies at selective public colleges and universities" and that fears "that ending affirmative action would cause a diversion of highly qualified minority students away from the elite colleges and universities appear to be unfounded."
c. Many critics will argue that without affirmative action, less minorities will attend top colleges. This is simply not true, representatives. According to the College Board, with top colleges? already implemented need-blind policy and efforts to make college affordable for lower-income students, many of the truly disadvantaged applicants can still achieve their dream of attending college. This need-blind policy has nothing to do with affirmative action. </li>
</ol>
<p>CONS:</p>
<p>?It?s not easy being green.? ?Kermit the Frog</p>
<ol>
<li> Quality students still attend top colleges regardless of affirmative action.
a. According to 2006 data from the US Department of Education, double standards are inconsistent with the principles and spirit of affirmative action. One standard is applied to all candidates. This myth, and this legislation, implies that women and minorities are inherently less qualified than white males, resulting in a need for affirmative action. However, according to academic data from 2006 US News Best Colleges, the minority students accepted through affirmative action hold the same test scores and academic credentials as their qualified white colleagues.
b. Furthermore, according to a 2003 article from Anders Hove of MIT, affirmative action is not about quotas or double standards. Affirmative action only comes into play during the recruitment process. MIT aggressively recruits women and minorities. Because of this recruitment, many qualified women apply to MIT, whereas they often do not apply to other universities that ignore recruiting. The actual admissions decisions have nothing to do with ethnic background because all the applicants considered are extremely qualified. </li>
<li> Disadvantaged minorities need a ?boost.?
a. According to 2003 data from the US Census Bureau, black households have a median income of about 30,000 dollars, Native American 32,000 dollars, and Hispanic 32,000 dollars, while white households have a median income of about 48,000 dollars. This asserts the idea that minorities for the most part are less privileged than the white, and thus need a ?boost? to attain higher education.<br>
b. Furthermore, according to a 2003 study from David Boaz of the Cato institute, Today's American urban schools are increasingly overloaded and under funded, lacking in adequate learning materials and qualified teachers. Minorities also make up the majority of the students at urban schools. Therefore, there is a correlation between lack of resources and minority status, and affirmative actions seeks to level the playing field and allows kids who never thought college was even an option now attend elite colleges. </li>
<li> Affirmative action allows for a more diverse college experience.
a. An August 28, 2004 Washington Post article states that among the freshman class of 6,500 at University of Texas, there are only 150 African American students, half last year's number. And the law school, for years one of the nation's major educators of minority lawyers, is welcoming only four African Americans and 26 Hispanics to its first-year class.
b. University officials agree that the scarcity of minority students ? both African American and Hispanic ? is direct fallout of new prohibitions on racial preferences that could affect the university's makeup ? and its public image ? for years to come.
c. A diverse environment is crucial today, fostering understanding over ethnic lines. A university without diversity misses out of a valuable life experience for its students.</li>
</ol>