<p>As a middle eastern myself, I am not particularly discontent about the fact that I don’t gain a racial advantage over others during the admission process but rather that we get the short end of the stick in the U.S. from every aspect in this nation of “equality.” We are the “lose lose” race is what particularly bothers me. I cannot count the times I have been called a “terrorist” or “sand ni***r” at school whether completely as a joke or serious and also called “brown” and mistaken for latino, indian, and other races while still getting the disadvantage of being “white” in legal terms. It’s extremely socially frustrating getting the racial slurs of being a “minority” while enjoying none of the actual perks of one.</p>
<p>Now before anyone calls me a “loser” or nerd/no friends guy at school because I get called random names, I want to make it clear that I indeed play two varsity sports and I indeed do have friends so it is not because of any other factor that I am poked fun at.</p>
<p>I know what you mean Golden. Does anyone know the representation of Middle Easterns at Ivy League collegess? And just to make this clear, Middle Easterns could become an URM if representation declines.</p>
<p>^ In the SCOTUS case United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind , it was ruled that Asians and middle-easterners could be labeled caucasian, but not white. </p>
<p>Question: Do biracial students count as URMs? i.e. 1/2 asian, 1/2 african ?</p>
<p>I don’t think that Middle Easterners have suffered any sort of extreme discrimination historically-- recently, somewhat. But they did not experience slavery, get their tribes wiped out, their land taken, or forced into pseudo-slavery. Such historic discrimination seems to be the requirement for URM status.</p>
<p>Many of you are discussing the “URM” label as if it’s a scientific fact. It’s not. It’s a social construct, particular to some US colleges. Due to racial imbalances of the past, some private schools actively seek diversity for a few selective sub groups (African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans). Is this a perfect system? Does this overlook other subgroups? Sure. But the practice of this isn’t to be fully inclusive – it’s to meet institutional goals of diversity (according to their own definitions)– not to be a Noah’s ark for every subgroup on the planet.</p>
<p>@adchang: Not true. At points, a majority of ethnic minorities have experienced significant discrimination. (Although perhaps not slavery, but then, many Hispanic groups have not experienced that either). The rationale behind AA is not reparations, as established in the Supreme Court case Gratz v. Bollinger, but diversity. Asians, for example, suffered horrible discrimination during the pre/post Chinese Exclusion Act era, but no one really focuses on this. If going on atrocity alone, the Jews suffered quite a bit, but there’s no AA for them (and don’t make the domestic argument, it’s weak).</p>
<p>Historic discrimination is therefore not a requirement for URM status. In fact, the initials themselves, URM (under-represented minority) define the requirements for the term. You must be an under-represented minority. At many schools and scholarship programs, Pacific-Islanders are also considered URMs, for diversity reasons.</p>
<p>^There’s affirmative action (or similar practices) in several historically white male-dominated professions.</p>
<p>Also Mentos, I don’t see how it’s justified if it’s for “diversity” purposes? Like, what makes someone more interesting or different just because his skin color is different?</p>
<p>^^ It’s the culture that makes them interesting you dolt, not the skin culture. A black male is different from a white male not because of skin but, because of culture.</p>
<p>If the percentage of college students who are x ethnicity is LESS than the percentage of Americans that are x ethnicity, they are considered an URM (e.g. Native Americans). </p>
<p>If the percentage of college students who are x ethnicity is MORE than the percentage of Americans who are x ethnicity, then they are not considered an URM (e.g. Asians). </p>
<p>I’m not advocating the system, just explaining it. Personally, I detest it.</p>
<p>@Mentos: Yeah, I was being a little tongue in cheek about Asian people. When I bring up the fact that Asians had suffered abuse in the US but got by pretty well as a whole without AA, I usually get called out for being a bigot. /is Asian.</p>
<p>There seems to be a lot of Arabophobia recently though.</p>
<p>Indians, Pakistanis and Chinese are not considered as URM either. We (Indians) are over represented relative to our percentage in overall population.Same apples to middle easterns.</p>
<p>Schools in America do not discriminate. My two boys went thourgh about 100 teachers kindergarten through 12th grade. Teachers were men, women, white, black hispanic and asian. I cant recall a single incident of discrimination; only pat on the back and encouragement!</p>
<p>I went to grad school myself in US. No discrimination there.</p>
<p>Top colleges bend over backwards to put together a good mix of class and give away loads of money. Stop blaming them and stop suggesting that there is racism and discrimination. Barak Hussein Obama is president. There is no racism or discrimination in this country. Just hard workers and lazy people. If you can pay your bills your accent is loved. If you have a good back America can use you.</p>
<p>Just because the schools’ URM policies are not in favor, you shouldnt complain. Think of a larger picture of fairness, common good and equity.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but this is in fact a forum about URM’s, not discrimination in schools. It’s not that we are being persecuted by these schools for our ethnicity, but rather that they are taking zero interest in our culture at all, or how we stand out from the average American caucasian. It really sucks. Once we check the little box that labels us as caucasian, and nothing more, we immediately are categorized as the majority, and we are definitely NOT the majority. Our culture is rich with very original aspects and difficulties. I myself am only half middle eastern. Believe it or not, my other half is jewish european. Guess what? I feel like my culture and experiences are pretty original, and it is something that should be recognized by colleges across the globe. </p>
<p>But it isn’t :(</p>
<p>as far as discrimination goes(i hate to get back on this topic) but I live in a southern area, and yeah, people can be ignorant jerks. It is not all that bad, but I have seen my relatives who are full middle eastern get called some pretty horrid things, especially with the recent political issues our country faces. But like I said, that is not what this is about. Personally I hope to make some sort of reference to this(my ethnic background) in an essay or personal statement.</p>