<p>These threads bring out the ugliness in people. I wish they were all locked.</p>
<p>^Yes let’s all be in denial and neglect the truth. After all, why let facts get in the way of correctness?</p>
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<p>What ugliness?</p>
<p>Bearcats is secretly super ugly…</p>
<p>I would ask the university to tell the protesters that, in the interests of diversity, the whites among them will not be invited back next semester and they will be replaced by blacks. Wonder what the protesters might think of that. Certainly would be real ‘affirmative action’"!</p>
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I’m not sure I understand what this is all about. Let’s be clear – the University of Micihigan is for affirmative action. The University defended the policy all the way to the Supreme Court (and won). The Michigan people, however, made a decision and passed Proposal 2 in 2006, banning the university from “discriminating against or giving preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public education…”</p>
<p>The University has complied with the mandate and has taken measures to maintain its commitment on diversity … for example:</p>
<p>"Q: Following passage of Proposal 2, has U-M undertaken new efforts to achieve the goal of a diverse community?</p>
<p>A: Yes. The Center for Educational Outreach was established to advance the University’s continuing commitment to educational outreach and collaboration with K-12 schools, service organizations, and communities. The Diversity Matters at Michigan website provides a comprehensive compilation of the University’s diversity resources and programming.</p>
<p>These resources, along with numerous other new and enhanced initiatives throughout the University, evolved from the recommendations of the University-wide Diversity Blueprints Task Force, which was appointed by President Coleman in December 2006 to develop strategies that sustain and enhance diversity, reaffirm the University’s commitment to the educational value of diversity, and help assure equal treatment of groups and individuals regardless of race, gender, color, ethnicity, or national origin. The Task Force’s final report made concrete recommendations on recruiting, precollege/K-12 outreach, admissions, financial aid, mentoring/student success, climate, curriculum/classroom discussions, diversity research and assessment, and external funding opportunities, and the University has committed significant resources to the report’s most promising recommendations."
[Diversity</a> Matters](<a href=“http://www.diversity.umich.edu/legal/prop2faq.php]Diversity”>http://www.diversity.umich.edu/legal/prop2faq.php)</p>
<p>The diversity of Michigan’s undergraduate student body is on par (at least) with its public peers, and best among Big Ten publics.</p>
<p>What I don’t understand is – What would these people recommend to increase diversity without violating the principle and the spirit of Propoal 2?</p>
<p>“These threads bring out the ugliness in people. I wish they were all locked.”</p>
<p>Where is the ugliness? </p>
<p>There are a lot of people who support the “forcing” of diversity. Where is the hard core evidence that shows how forcing diversity makes the community a better place?</p>
<p>Bearcats and I usually don’t agree on much, but I have to say he or she is spot on here. I don’t believe we should force diversity. I think improving failing school systems where a lot of minorities are will do the work for us. When students are educated and get here on the merit of being the leaders and best, regardless of race, it creates a wonderful educational community. And people of minority status WILL still get in. If people get here on merit, there ARE diversities. If the racial diversity is lacking, there is still diversity by home town (people all over Michigan, the US, and the world), socioeconomic status, religion, interest level and experience. Diversity, ANY kind of diversity, is incredibly helpful to the classroom. Especially in classes like English or philosophy where you can get different opinions and get a conversation or debate going with a lot of different perspectives to open students’ minds to new ideas. The trick is getting that heterogeneous mix while still maintaining the intellectual atmosphere of the university. The problem isn’t umich. The problem is that students (minority or otherwise) in impoverished areas with awful high schools aren’t getting out of their high school education what they need to get to Michigan. Fix the high schools and you get diversity naturally.</p>
<p>Worse than the privilege that most of you are oblivious to is another level of privilege nobody has addressed. Many of the minorities and low SES students being shut out have the scores that many alums got in with 5, 10 or 15+ years ago. To sit there on a pedestal and try to deny poor students an opportunity, who have the same or better qualifications you did, is hypocritical. You’re no better than them, just lucky it was an easier school to get into. It’s not their fault they’re in a school district that can’t function.</p>
<p>Many of the people who have posted in this thread are current UMich students so feel free to try again. </p>
<p>I came from an extremely low SES town with the highest violent crime rate per capita in my former home state so if you think my HS much in the way of ‘function,’ think again.</p>
<p>I’m sorry but some of you are actually being pretty racist. Why is it assumed that all Hispanic and/or black people are poor and underprivileged? I just find it really offensive that when I say where I’m from immediately some people just think I’m poor and had an awful education or something. I mean, I won’t really complain if affirmative action is enacted cause that would obviously help me because I’m hispanic and living in Michigan, but I know I can get in somewhere good without affirmative action as well because I have good grades and can afford it. Just try to remember that not ALL hispanics and blacks came from a bad part of town and have a poor background cause that is just not true at all. Sorry just had to say that even though it doesn’t really have much to do with the discussion. Carry on</p>
<p>Actually, Colombiangirl, you bring up a very valid point. I’ve never understood why “URM = poor and qualified” in the eyes of higher ed. Sometimes an URM is just poor, sometimes they’re just qualified, but they aren’t always both. I’m fine with helping the kids from less privileged communities, but that clearly isn’t the purpose of AA. </p>
<p>Lord knows there’s plenty of poor/working-class white kids in Michigan. Where’s there advocacy program?</p>
<p>“I’m sorry but some of you are actually being pretty racist. Why is it assumed that all Hispanic and/or black people are poor and underprivileged? I just find it really offensive that when I say where I’m from immediately some people just think I’m poor and had an awful education or something. I mean, I won’t really complain if affirmative action is enacted cause that would obviously help me because I’m hispanic and living in Michigan, but I know I can get in somewhere good without affirmative action as well because I have good grades and can afford it. Just try to remember that not ALL hispanics and blacks came from a bad part of town and have a poor background cause that is just not true at all. Sorry just had to say that even though it doesn’t really have much to do with the discussion. Carry on”</p>
<p>Let me translate it for you. You guys are racist because you assume hispanics and black people are likely poor and underpriviledged (despite statistics that largely support the assumption), but I am ok with affirmative action, even though it automatically assumes hispanics and black people are poor and underpriviledged, because it would obviously help me. I like to have my cake and eat it too!</p>
<p>Colleges give preferences to the children of alumni…mostly white. Colleges give preferences to children of parents that do not need financial aid…mostly white. State colleges give preferences to OOS students, who can pay more…mostly white. Colleges save seats for foreign students…very few are from Africa.</p>
<p>So the above preferences are acceptable because it’s O.K. to stack the deck against minorities and the poor? Top schools should only be for whites and Asians who have the means, connections and the know-how to choreograph perfect applications?</p>
<p>In an effort to keep their schools from being overrun with Asian gunners (see Cal, UCLA), I’m sure you’re aware of the ceiling the top private colleges put on Asian admits, yes? Is that O.K.?</p>
<p>I see no boost for OOS applicants at Michigan…</p>
<p>or for non-aid kids</p>
<p>You can be OOS, or rich, or an alumni without being white.
You can’t get an AA boost without being a URM.</p>
<p>To admit based on gender, race, ethnicity, etc, is dumb. Just accept the best applicants.</p>
<p>ThisIsMichigan is right on!</p>
<p>@Grizzly17</p>
<p>Are you serious?
No on is stacking the deck against URM. The deck is stacked in their favor. They can get admitted with lower stats!</p>
<p>“Colleges give preferences to the children of alumni…mostly white. Colleges give preferences to children of parents that do not need financial aid…mostly white. State colleges give preferences to OOS students, who can pay more…mostly white.”</p>
<p>I got into U-M when it first switched to the Common App. I receive need-based financial aid. I am NOT the child of a U-M alum. I am an in-state student. Was the deck stacked against me?</p>
<p>Does me being white mean that the deck was NOT stacked me against me?</p>
<p>@Grizzly </p>
<p>I’m fine with colleges helping those less fortunate than the average applicant. Why, however, do people assume that there aren’t whites or Asians in the same boat as blacks or Hispanics? </p>
<p>What it comes down to is artificial diversity, plain and simple. Administrations love to have a diverse campus because it’s good PR.</p>
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<p>This one is not true at UMich. Though the others are, sure, and they’re all about money. But think of all the other things you can do with money, you can buy land, businesses, means of production. Unless you’re going to come off and start espousing communism to us, get over it. (And if you are going to start preaching communism, don’t bother because we aren’t buying it.) It’s better to have money than to not. That’s life. And it’s not about being Black or White or anything.</p>
<p>Grizzly17, I didn’t get into Michigan because I have wealthy parents and come from “privilege”. I got into Michigan because I worked my ass off in high school and got great test scores. Go to hell.</p>
<p>But if you do have wealthy parents and did come from privilege though… that definitely helped.</p>