Yale and the Puritanism of ‘Social Justice’

Wall Street Journal ^ | 3-6-18 | Walter Olson

[DeweyCA]

Answering a question about which there could hardly have been much doubt, Yale’s admissions blog said last month the university would not penalize prospective students who are suspended for joining antigun protests in the wake of the Parkland shooting. “Yale will NOT be rescinding anyone’s admission decision for participating in peaceful walkouts for this or other causes.”

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The post’s author, senior assistant director of admissions Hannah Mendlowitz, makes clear that Yale considers participation in such a walkout to be a plus, rather than a subject of indifference.

“For those students who come to Yale, we expect them to be versed in issues of social justice,” Ms. Mendlowitz writes. “I have the pleasure of reading applications from San Francisco, where activism is very much a part of the culture. Essays ring of social justice issues.” Even if applicants from less-fortunate areas of the country cannot be expected to meet the Bay Area standard, the message is clear. The post is titled “In Support of Student Protests.”

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What should one advise aspiring Yalies who are not versed in—or worse, not zealous for—the Bay Area ideologies that so please the admissions office?

It might be best not to feign progressive political views in hopes of snagging a coveted Yale slot. That would be insincere. But maybe it would be prudent to conceal any contrasting views.

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The issue is of principle, not law: As a private university, Yale is not subject to the First Amendment and need not guarantee applicants a neutral forum. It can set what standards it pleases, including screening out students who march for a not-Yale cause. By contrast, administrators in public high schools are barred from playing favorites, so they can’t approve or disapprove peaceful walkouts based on whether or not they approve of the cause.

[DeweyCA]

I have counseled several students to NOT explicitly mention their Christian activities (such as summer medical missions trips) on their college applications. I counsel to to write in only general secular terminology when describing their Christian or conservative activities. There is simply too much bias against Christians or conservatives in these college admissions departments. Liberals are the most intolerant class of people.

[Catmom]

It’s too bad we can’t home school college kids.

Lord knows they’d get a better education.

[allendale]

These kids are learning to be phonies at a very young age. They know life will be much easier if they graduate from an Ivy league school. If they have to posture and preen in a politically correct mode, they will do what it takes. wonder the last time Yale accepted a white veteran who was a transfer student from a community college.

[loveliberty2]

Of essays from the San Francisco area, the spokesman says: "Essays ring of social justice issues."

How much more encouraging and forward looking would have been an observation which read: "Essays ring of liberty and freedom issues."

Do these obviously Progressive ideological "social justice warriors" not understand that, without freedom, "social justice issues" would have no meaning, as is true in many totalitarian societies?

[bkopto]

a coveted Yale slot

???

I would never let my kids attend Yale, even if they were given a full ride scholarship.

I love my kids too much to do that to them.

[donna]

Social Justice - Source Conservapedia

Social Justice also known as economic justice, is a term describing the redistribution of wealth for the common good of all.

However, this comes at the expense of wage earners and liberty by demanding a society to conform. Those who work and have must give to those who don't work and don't have.

This is the fundamental basis of Marxism and championed by liberal progressives.