Want Diversity? Think Fuzzy

Washington Post ^ | June 25, 2003 | Michael Kinsley

[Servant of the Nine]

Admission to a prestige institution such as the University of Michigan or its law school is what computer types call a "binary" decision. It's yes or no. You're in or you're out. There is no partial or halfway admission. The effect of any factor in that decision is also binary. It either changes the result or it doesn't. It makes all the difference or it makes none at all. Those are the only possibilities.

For any individual, the process of turning factors into that yes-or-no decision doesn't matter. Any factor that changes the result has the same impact as if it were an absolute quota of one. It gets you in, or it keeps you out. And this is either right or it is wrong. The process of turning factors into a result doesn't matter here either. In this sense, the moral question is binary too.

[Servant of the Nine]

I could not find an earlier post of this.

Kinsley in a rational mood, tearing the Supremes decision on the Law School to shreds.

So9

[07055]

The court's message to universities and other selective, government-financed institutions is: We have fudged this dangerous issue. You should do the same.

He certainly nails this one.

I wonder why the rare display of rationality? Wanna bet he has a kid who is applying to graduate school?

[Servant of the Nine]

Wanna bet he has a kid who is applying to graduate school?

I didn't think he had ever been that involved with a woman.

So9

[El Gato]

The interesting thing is that the University did not and does not need to use race, or more properly ethnicity since they favor Hispanics and that's not a race (or even a single cluture. They could do, as many schools do, use economic status as well as something akin to the 10% rule that Texas schools use. Economic status will correllate well with ethnicity, and what's more do it when there are real "barriers" the applicant has overcome. It will do so without turning down the Vietnamese kid who falls into a disfavored minority, from a poor family and the "wrong" side of town, or the kid from Appalachia or parts of Arkansas and nearby parts of surrounding states. But no, they didn't wish to that, they wished to favor some goups over others based on where their ancestors came from.

[El Gato]

The 10% involves giving automatic addmission to anyone graduating in the top 10% of their high school class. It's not the greatest idea, but at least it's ethnicity neutral.

[muawiyah]

The article writer erred in referring to U of M as a "prestige" institution. Actually, under the current policies, U of M seems to be the very sort of cracker operation my mother always warned me against.

With the blessing of the USSC U of M can now continue to discriminate against Jews, Asians and Hillbillies.

People who would send their kid to that school are the kind of people I would not like to have living in my neighborhood, nor would I care to do business with them, or attend their church.

[muawiyah]

The article writer erred in referring to U of M as a "prestige" institution. Actually, under the current policies, U of M seems to be the very sort of cracker operation my mother always warned me against.

With the blessing of the USSC U of M can now continue to discriminate against Jews, Asians and Hillbillies.

People who would send their kid to that school are the kind of people I would not like to have living in my neighborhood, nor would I care to do business with them, or attend their church.

[muawiyah]

The article writer erred in referring to U of M as a "prestige" institution. Actually, under the current policies, U of M seems to be the very sort of cracker operation my mother always warned me against.

With the blessing of the USSC U of M can now continue to discriminate against Jews, Asians and Hillbillies.

People who would send their kid to that school are the kind of people I would not like to have living in my neighborhood, nor would I care to do business with them, or attend their church.

[BamaGirl]

" Wanna bet he has a kid who is applying to graduate school? "

In my experience, graduate school still uses merit to select students. They simply can't afford to employ anyone who is not the best; they have their reputations to protect! At least that is the case at the top institutions.

[John Will]

I'm glad I am going to Michigan tech instead of the liberal paradise of the midwest.

[Mr. K]

I think I like that 10% idea- I like it MUCH better than affirmative action, at least, because the top 10% of the students at ANY school must be the ones who excelled in their particular environment.

[BamaGirl]

Good for you!