Posted on 01/13/2012 2:44:23 PM PST by reaganaut1
DURHAM Black students at Duke University are angry over a university research paper that found African-American undergraduates at the school are disproportionally more likely to switch from tough majors to easier ones.
The implications and intentions of this research at the hands of our very own prestigious faculty, seemingly without a genuine concern for proactively furthering the well-being of the black community is hurtful and alienating, wrote the officers of Dukes Black Student Alliance in an email sent to the state NAACP.
The letter from Nana Asante, president of the alliance, challenged the faculty members involved in the research and the university administration to consider what image has this report portrayed to the rest of the country, namely our peer institutions, about Duke and its black students?
The unpublished report, What Happens After Enrollment? An Analysis of the Time Path of Racial Differences in GPA and Major Choice, looked at the Duke freshman classes that matriculated in 2001 and 2002, in their first, second and fourth years of college.
It found that among students who initially expressed an interest in majoring in economics, engineering and the natural sciences, 54 percent of black men and 51 percent of black women ended up switching to the humanities or another social science.
By comparison, 33 percent of white women and just 8 percent of white men made the switch to majors that are considered less rigorous, require less study and have easier grading standards.
According to the paper, 68 percent of Dukes black students but less than 55 percent of white students ended up majoring in the humanities or social sciences other than economics.
(Excerpt) Read more at heraldsun.com ...
Obviously, we need to give MORE Taxpayer money to black under-achievers, and that will solve their problem with getting through tough courses?
Are these the same 88 who went after the Duke Lacrosse Players?
I'm picking up a pattern here.....these stats are eerily equivalent to the criminal population in prisons.....
Who would have thunk?
Who would have thunk?
Before I could make a meaningful analysis of the meaning of this, I would need more information. For instance:
What were the economic backgrounds of these “black” students that dropped out of the “hard” subjects? Were they from poor families and lived in areas where the High Schools did not prepare them for a first rate university setting? In other words, were they allowed to enter with lower GPAs and college entrance exams than the rest of the college student body?
IF this is so I would expect that a “white” student from a similar economic background where a quality High School education was not available to do as poorly. However, does the University not allow “white” students of reduced backgrounds into the school? If not the comparison is not logical.
IF however, students - black or white - come from similar economic backgrounds with similar GPAs and entrance exam results....this would be a troubling findind. It would imply that “black” students are intrinsically lazy (seeking the path of least resistance) or not as mentally capable as their white counterparts. I find both of these conclusion as not being plausible.
I wish they would provide more information.
We saw this switch by Black middle class students at the high school our kids attended. It was Nicolet H.S., a suburban school where 80% go onto college and most, even minorities are middle class. I was a parent active on PTA committees and from knowing kids and parents and from the committee reports I had access to saw a lot of the Black kids were taking the minimum of math and science required to still get into college. The college bound whites, especially the Jewish and Asian kids were taking science and math for all 4 years of HS, as they wanted to be doctors, researchers or engineers.
Awww the poor little race baiters got their itty bitty feewings hurt..... Truth is painful aint it.
Translation: We can't HANDLE the truth!
But are they factual?
The fact that they're factual is what makes them hurtful and alienating.
I believe and see it all to often.
Their complaint sounds like another version of “If the truth hurts, reject the truth.” Seems they have been ingrained with that narrative. Especially since the liberal Marxists have been telling them for 70 years that “It’s OK to reject the truth - we will care for you, and cuddle you, and make that boo-boo all better!”
Granddaughter is applying to a great University for Pre Med as she is 3rd in a class of 540 in her high school.
My Doctor asked "is she black"?
A NATION GONE MAD.
“at the hands of our very own prestigious faculty,”
Always victims.
Well, yeah, that’s true, but I think you have to understand the level and depth of the paranoia. For many generations that paranoia was well deserved, and in lots of places in this country today it still exists.
That being said, people will use whatever Ace they have up their sleeve to advance their own goals. It is human nature and is rather smart. People and social issues are complicated.
Geeze, there’s always the NBA!!!!!!!!!!! Or how about a career storming Foot Lockers to steal Air Jordans??????????? See, the opportunities for these geniuses are endless!
“...without a genuine concern for proactively furthering the well-being of the black community....”
What is being advocated in that statement.....affirmative grading on top of affirmative action admissions?
News Flash! Only enroll in schools and courses for which you have scholastically PREPARED and you’ll be fine!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.