Take a look at this

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
41

<p>As for your prediction that this thread will have no original thoughts, I suspect there are very few original thoughts on a subject that has been so thoroughly discussed over the years. Amazing as it may seem to you, some people haven't been through the discussion/debate. It is actually a learning exercise for many.</p>

<p>Moreover, as far as I can tell, your anecdotes about your high school seem to suggest that in-state students receive a preference. Perhaps you have some other point to make, but it is not evident. Also, I don't see how your anecdotes are any more exciting than the other "anecdotes" on this thread that bored you.</p>

<p>It must be nice to be the ultimate arbiter of all things noteworthy on this subject. However, some of us prefer to engage in an active discussion rather than reading an old MIT thread.</p>

42

<p>I recognize that some people are disadvantaged, and that there's a disproportionate amount of black people who are in this situation due to after effects of the past generations. Those are what the real issues are. In the long term, affirmative action will help some at eliminating these cycles that have been plaguing the black community due to increased quality of education, but by and large it seems to be only treating the symptoms rather than fixing the problem and the reasons why these minorities on average aren't as prepared as the rest of the population.</p>

<p>I met hundreds of people at college, many of which were minorities or people from different backgrounds. But for whatever reason, the "under represented ones" were still under represented in my experience. Just because an increasingly diverse class is taken doesn't mean that diversity will necessarily permeate to more niches in college life.</p>

43

<p>AA says a group of five people who have the same interests from books to food to music is "diverse" if its composition is 1 White, 1 Asian, 1 Hispanic, 1 African American, and 1 Native American. Meanwhile, a group of five all of whom are of the same race yet have vastly different interests is not "diverse." This is why the whole concept of race-based AA to promote diversity is absurd.</p>

<p>Also, isn't it funny that URMs are disadvantaged because of their own lack of initiative or because Whites oppressed them in the past yet it's Asians who suffer most from AA today?</p>

44

<p>
[quote]
I suspect there are very few original thoughts on a subject that has been so thoroughly discussed over the years.

[/quote]
Yes, and I doubt the Michigan part of this forum has many that will bring something new, hence why I said this will go nowhere.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Amazing as it may seem to you, some people haven't been through the discussion/debate. It is actually a learning exercise for many.

[/quote]
Affirmative Action is a topic that's almost as hot as abortion; I doubt many have not at least gone through the blunt motions you think are so poignant, and the few that haven't are better going somewhere else (see above and below).</p>

<p>
[quote]
Moreover, as far as I can tell, your anecdotes about your high school seem to suggest that in-state students receive a preference. Perhaps you have some other point to make, but it is not evident. Also, I don't see how your anecdotes are any more exciting than the other "anecdotes" on this thread that bored you.

[/quote]
My comments were directed at jeffl, note the parrallelism.</p>

<p>And my point is a defense for affirmative action; i.e., if there is such thing as geographic preference, why not racial?</p>

<p>
[quote]
It must be nice to be the ultimate arbiter of all things noteworthy on this subject. However, some of us prefer to engage in an active discussion rather than reading an old MIT thread.

[/quote]
Rather than getting defensive, consider what I said. This "active discussion" will consist of arguments by those, including myself, who have no real insight into the issue. Unless someone here works for an admission's office (I don't think hoedown will join this thread), is an anthropologist or sociologist, and so forth, the information one presents will only be uniformed, anecdotal bias. Just because you got a 3* ACT/15** SAT doesn't mean you're knowledgable about human interaction.</p>

<p>So, if your intent is to feel intelligent because you had some heated discussion, the formentioned mental masturbation, that's great; go for it. However, if you want to see something of substance, the MIT board is a good start, because it is not an article, it is a college confidential thread, and there is active discussion, but the members have a better idea of what the issue really is.</p>

45

<p>why don't admissions admit more ppl with diff musical tastes?</p>

<p>i'm sick on not having anyone else to talk to about trance, house, prog, etc.</p>

<p>what about girls that are cute AND smart AND like trance/house music? those people are underrepresented at mich too</p>

<p>i'd also like to meet a greater number of synaesthetic ppl too</p>

46

<p>I simply find you reference to this thread as "mental masturbation" offensive. Yes, some people (as you noted) made some ignorant comments. However, many others brought out solid, logical points on both sides of the issue. You don't have to be an anthropologist or sociologist to comment intelligently on this subject (thank goodness).</p>

<p>You also pre-judged everyone on the thread (even those that had not yet commented), saying they would not bring any original thought to the discussion and then referred people to an old MIT thread. I find this attitude arrongant. According to you, they have a better idea as to what the issue really is. This is your opinion, not a fact. You shouldn't state opinions as facts. So, enlighten us, tell us what the issue really is, in your opinion. </p>

<p>If you have no real insight into the issue and are bored by its content, then why do you continue to post on the thread? This makes absolutely no sense.</p>

<p>Many people on this thread have different backgrounds and experiences, and I have certainly learned a few things.</p>

<p>If you will note my first thread, I look forward to going to a diverse school and this is one of the reasons I chose Michigan. I look forward to interacting with people who are different from me. </p>

<p>I also like the idea of bringing out points in a discussion (both pro and con) that haven't been mentioned. I see both positives and negatives to AA. Moreover, I believe this thread will help young minds form their own opinions and to be able to see things from both sides. I see no reason to shut discussion down and go read an MIT thread.</p>

47

<p>I WANT TO MAKE AN ANALOGY!!!!</p>

<p>OOOO, let me do the Detroit Lions. </p>

<p>It's like building them through the NFL Draft. If you take the Best Player Avaliable, you may be stuck with 3 wide receivers when you only need one, leaving needs at other positions. This way, your team won't be as good as it would have been if you had filled those needs. </p>

<p>Howeva, if you fill needs, you have a complete team, one that can win the Super duper Bowl, or in the Lions case, actually finish above .500. </p>

<p>And a well rounded team > a team that is stacked at certain areas. Therefore UM > UCLA :D</p>

<p>(I don't care if you don't like me, and I don't care if you think i'm stupid)</p>

48

<p>I don’t have a southern accent, for the most part. I just drop the “g” at the ends of some “-ing” words and say “y’all” every now and then.</p>

<p>Which brings me to a question in a weird indirect way: How many disadvantaged African-Americans who go to Harvard end up going back to the inner cities where they grew up?</p>

<p>At my school, more than half the kids aren’t “allowed” to go North of the Mason-Dixon line or west of Texas for fear of being “indoctrinated” by liberal professors. Most end up going to “rich southern boy” schools. However, the best oftentimes make it out, but never come back: Why would they?</p>

<p>Thus, a negative effect: the best leave, the old stay, and thus 81% of the population votes to ban gay marriage and a third want Roy Moore as the Republican candidate for governor (not that there’s a much better alternative: the Republican incumbent candidate keeps raising taxes and not doing anything and the Democratic candidate is a crook). Not that that’s a bad thing, everyone’s allowed to have their own beliefs (I’ll rant about how conservative Christians are persecuted without given a chance another day), but the entire system just keeps on getting worse. Is this the same thing that happens to inner cities?</p>

49

<p>The Detroit Lions analogy is just like saying that "we need people good at math, languages, and art"...not "we need people who are red, pink, and blue."</p>

50

<p>Christine, I think you have very interesting insight on the problems that rural states are having in the South and Plains states. You are exactly right about the cycle of the "best" leaving and communities spiraling downward. Yes, inner city communities are facing these very same problems, except instead of choosing right wing politicians, they choose left wing ones that are just as ineffectual. </p>

<p>While I'm not a disadvantaged African-American (I'm fairly well off, but not rich), I can tell you that its not likely I'll be taking my UM undergrad and top 20 Law degree to the west side of Chicago. That's just not an attractive option for me and a lot of other Blacks in my position. Some do it, others don't. It all depends. That's not to say I won't try to be a positive role in some people's lives (tutoring, mentoring etc), its just that I've done that before, and its so depressing how impossible it is to get through to some of these kids. (What a rambling post lol...ima stop now!)</p>

<p>KB</p>