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 ...
i agree with you in principal- they should be given another chance and an opportunity to improve themselves...but if you had a daughter on campus and there was a felony rapist or two who were students, wouldn’t you want to school to know about it?
And why should their voting or second amendment rights be affected? If they can't be trusted to be armed, they shouldn't be loose!
“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.”
So it will be relatively easy to remain a student even with serious legal troubles...
How many "serial rapists" are applying to college. I'm sure there are a few exceptions, but most serial rapists earn themselves long prison sentences.
If a felon has paid his/her debt to society, it's not an issue with me.
Someone applying for SUNY, even a felon, is showing a desire to improve themselves. I don’t see them going to college with the intent of committing more felonies. And if they do, they’ll be out.
That being said, if they major in theater or English Lit, then there’s no value in it and they should go learn a skill.
Making universities safe for everyone. This going to be bad.
Someone should not be disqualified strictly on the basis of a Felony. But for Certain Felony’s they should be. Violent ones for instance.
I can say with the utmost honesty no. Again felons who are not wishing to actively approve aren’t enrolling to college. And because you are referring to daughters I’m assuming your dear would be rape. Of which they will already be identified under sexual offenders registry. Whether it’s a sex offender, murderer, drug peddler et al. It doesn’t matter if it’s a university, a bar, on a public road nothing will prevent anyone from committing a crime if this is what they wish to do. We don’t make former felons proclaim they are in a grocery store or if they are working for a private institution that services contracts. So why a university?
I am all for this. IF a person is a danger to society then society needs to make sure they ain’t in society presenting a danger. We give rapists probation, for crying out loud!
Damn auto correct
Dang, PC to the death...
I guess female students just have to find out on their own if there’s a rapist on campus.
Felons are not permitted to apply for federal loans, grants, etc. I hope the finance office still asks them, otherwise the college is breaking the law.
“How many “serial rapists” are applying to college. I’m sure there are a few exceptions, but most serial rapists earn themselves long prison sentences.
If a felon has paid his/her debt to society, it’s not an issue with me.”
I don’t know, I seem to hear quite often that the person who just shot the elderly lady and took her purse, or raped the teacher, should have still been in jail from previous crimes.
Light sentences seem fairly common these days.
If I were to be robbed at gunpoint, it would not surprise me at all to learn that the robber is a convicted felon who spent little time in jail for his last few crimes.
I do to. Not sure why a felony stops them from getting an education and eventual job. Liberals just want to keep them on welfare I guess.
Ok. And what do they do for the rest of their lives? Collect welfare. Some haven’t a clue.
How about all the quotas by race/ethnicity now? Why let an armed robbery of a convenient store knock a thug outta college.
Not intending to kill the victim would make it manslaughter; 1st Degree is murder with premeditation.
Or they could just study online and avoid the drama.
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