Posted on 09/15/2016 9:09:05 AM PDT by reaganaut1
For years, the State University of New York included this query on its undergraduate application: “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?”
On Wednesday, the university’s board of trustees voted to remove the question, citing the barriers it posed to some prospective students.
The news that one of the largest public university systems in the country will no longer ask applicants whether they have been convicted of a felony is a step forward in a movement to remove questions about criminal histories from college applications. A 2010 study by the Center for Community Alternatives, a nonprofit group in New York, found that about two-thirds of colleges asked for criminal history information from applicants, including some that asked about arrests or misdemeanor convictions.
There has been a push for change amid growing concern that such questions have a disproportionate negative effect on black applicants. In May, the Obama administration called on university administrators to rethink how questions about criminal backgrounds are used in applications, which it said had a potential “chilling effect” on applicants.
The change to SUNY’s application will take effect in July 2017. Prospective students will be asked about prior felony convictions only after they are admitted and only if they seek on-campus housing or participate in clinical, field or study abroad programs.
Changing the criminal history policy had been debated within SUNY for about a year. In the spring, the student assembly passed a resolution calling for the 64-campus university system to end the practice.
Nancy L. Zimpher, the SUNY chancellor, recommended the change [...], noting that “it is in the interest of the State of New York to facilitate the admission of individuals with previous criminal convictions into the university because access to higher education can enhance public safety by reducing recidivism and facilitating successful reintegration.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Since blacks commit crimes at higher rates than other groups, let's stop punishing crime in any way to avoid the "disparate impact" of doing so.
The Obama regime supports this, of course. A previous FR thread was White House asks colleges to look beyond criminal records.
and the first injured victim of a serious assault or rape or whatever from a serial-rapist student so admitted...is gonna sue the H out of the university and the administrators
and the taxpayers will wind up paying for both the damages and the defense attorneys
(Hillary defense)
so when someone is assaulted on campus by someone with a prior felony, SUNY will be sued for zillions....
I support this, but not because of “disproportionate negative effect on black applicants”, which is not a legitimate reason.
I also support this.
The person is trying to improve themselves. As long as they have the grades to show they are prepared for the course of study, why not?
O wants us to ‘look beyond criminal records’ because he’s worried about his future after he’s convicted for treason, sedition, and grand theft (where did he stash our $7 Trillion for all those shovel-ready jobs he later had to admit never existed? And when is he gonna get our 150 Billion back he’s given his IslamONazi friends in Iran so they can complete their nuclear bombs?)
yes, O does NOT want any sanctions for serious crimes
Dear SUNY - why don’t you just cut to the chase and make a quota system for whites. Say, whites cannot comprise more that 5% of the student body.
And while you’re at it, faculty and administration cannot be more than 10%.
Stop the charade already.
Sentence, probation, parole completed. Debt paid.
But what about repeat, habitual offenders? They’re probably not interested in college anyway.
What about the type and severity of the underlying Crime?
There are a number of variables to consider.
Pretty soon, criminal records will be considered “Real World Experience” and improve chances of admission to the cesspits of academia.
A felony question is an extremely appropriate question to ask of college applicants. Rape, sodomy, plus many other convictions present a potential threat to others. These same convicts will get Pell Grants. How bout AL Capone and his pals SUNY? I am ashamed to state I once considered Plattsburgh, NY my home.
Felony arrests/convictions are no barrier for faculty (cf. Ayers, Dorhn, etc) so no sense burdening students by them either.
Especially if they have served their time, not committed any more crimes, I don’t think it should be an issue.
The assumption is that an ex-con who is now free has paid their debt to society.
If they are free to live with the general public, why shouldn’t they be free to attend a college?
How may hardened felons are truly applying and going to this college? Even if they did I’d tip my hat to them because they served their punishment and then firmly commuted to turning their life around by taking the active steps to apply, interview then attend.
A level of common sense has to be applied when thinking it a felon goes to college.
If they served their time they served their time
“Pretty soon, criminal records will be considered “Real World Experience” and improve chances of admission to the cesspits of academia.”
Pelican Bay Community College
How will you know any of this info if you can’t inquire?
You will have no idea if you are admitting a one time minor felon, or a serial rapist, or whatever?
I have no problem with admitting someone who seems to have gotten on the right track after a mistake.
If you can’t ask, then you just don’t know what sort of felon you are letting in amongst the students.
The State of New York wants more highly educated criminals. Once they get their degree they are much better qualified to run for high government office, even governor. Both the majority and minority leaders of the Legislature were convicted of crimes and are experiencing the “training” for the first time that current felons already have.
I have that question (with crime in place of felony) on my rental application form. I’ll probably get sued by some criminal next time I have a vacancy!
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