NationStates Jolt Archive

My college is having something like a minority awareness week sponsored by the NAACP.

I'm not opposed to this, however, I don't understand the logic behind being outraged that there are a minority of minority professors.

Isn't that what makes them a minority?

Now, if our minority professors are not reflecting, percent wise, the proper proportion in our community, I can see how that could be considered a problem, but again, they ARE a minority.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't hire more staff, but I think giving someone a job because of their race and not their qualifications is stupid. If there are QUALIFIED minorities applying for the professorship, then I don't see a problem with giving them a nudge. If, however, a professor is hired despite having less qualifications, then I find a problem with that.

The students' education is at stake over someone's hurt feelings. How is it fair to deny a student the best education possible because you're forced to hire underqualified people?

Nextly, I think minority scholarships are HURTING minorties. Here's my logic:

By lowering standards for these students, we're sending them the message that they're either too stupid to get it on their own merit as a race, or they're entitled to the money. I don't care if a scholarship for a minority student is MORE than mine, but I don't think it's fair that someone with significantly poorer grades than my own is going to school for free.

The other problem is I think we might be establishing a sense of self-entitlement. If we hand them everything, of COURSE the drop out rate is going to be 50%. Working as a busser in a shitty restaraunt sure made me appreciate money more, even if I do still suck at managing it.

I hope this doesn't come across as racist, because I do not believe I am one. However, I do stand by these statements. Hiring underqualified people and sending the message to people that they're dumber than your average white person is hurting America, and is sure hurting the people who these programs are intended to help.

Thoughts?

You're not a racist. You're entirely correct.

PC person: OMG, you think teh blacks are teh smart enuf to get in college on their own? U B teh racist!!!111oneoneone

The hypocracy of much of what is considered politically correct is clear enough for even the blind to see and they literally can't see anything.

Luckily, things like hiring an underqualified person simply on the basis of their race are illegal. Granting admission on a similar basis - also illegal.

Affirmative action programs these days work to ensure that under-represented minorities are aware that the path is open to them, and might give a tie or near-tie to a minority, where only one slot is open.

As for scholarships, people will give scholarships to whatever group they like. When I was first searching for scholarships, I found that there were some specific to groups like, "Homosexual teenager living in a small, rural town." That doesn't really say anything about affirmative action or about society as a whole. It just means that somebody wanted their money to go that specific demographic.

By lowering standards for these students, we're sending them the message that they're either too stupid to get it on their own merit as a race, or they're entitled to the money. I don't care if a scholarship for a minority student is MORE than mine, but I don't think it's fair that someone with significantly poorer grades than my own is going to school for free.



I don't know about significantly lower grades but generally where minorities are focues there tends to be worse education (less money goes into it) so that if you where the same kid going to the richer/better school you'd have a higher grade then if you tried just as hard at the other school. Also if the person is in poverty then that little extra can help them get out of it. Personally I think programs like that should be based on how much money you need not your race but *shrugs*

Luckily, things like hiring an underqualified person simply on the basis of their race are illegal. Granting admission on a similar basis - also illegal.

Affirmative action programs these days work to ensure that under-represented minorities are aware that the path is open to them, and might give a tie or near-tie to a minority, where only one slot is open.

As for scholarships, people will give scholarships to whatever group they like. When I was first searching for scholarships, I found that there were some specific to groups like, "Homosexual teenager living in a small, rural town." That doesn't really say anything about affirmative action or about society as a whole. It just means that somebody wanted their money to go that specific demographic.

Ok, it just seemed like in some ways they're saying "You're too stupid to get in on REAL people requirements."

I do think it's not entirely fair that you could legally make a "X-Race Only Scholarship" but if you made one for whites it'd probably be illegal. Not sure though.

Ok, it just seemed like in some ways they're saying "You're too stupid to get in on REAL people requirements."

That's because affirmative action, at one point, did entail different requirements. It probably even had to, considering that, especially prior to integration, the "black" schools really did give a lesser education. They were underfunded, understaffed, underequipped, etc. So people got this impression that affirmative action always meant giving a seemingly less qualified something over a more qualified member of a majority. That is not, however, currently the case.

I do think it's not entirely fair that you could legally make a "X-Race Only Scholarship" but if you made one for whites it'd probably be illegal. Not sure though.

No, it wouldn't. And I can pretty much guarrantee that there are "whites-only" scholarships out there, although you'd probably have to search to find them and they'd probably be coming from some very unsavory people.

I don't know about significantly lower grades but generally where minorities are focues there tends to be worse education (less money goes into it) so that if you where the same kid going to the richer/better school you'd have a higher grade then if you tried just as hard at the other school. Also if the person is in poverty then that little extra can help them get out of it. Personally I think programs like that should be based on how much money you need not your race but *shrugs*

I had not thought about that, thanks for bringing it up. :D

That's because affirmative action, at one point, did entail different requirements. It probably even had to, considering that, especially prior to integration, the "black" schools really did give a lesser education. They were underfunded, understaffed, underequipped, etc. So people got this impression that affirmative action always meant giving a seemingly less qualified something over a more qualified member of a majority. That is not, however, currently the case.



No, it wouldn't. And I can pretty much guarrantee that there are "whites-only" scholarships out there, although you'd probably have to search to find them and they'd probably be coming from some very unsavory people.

Unsavory indeed!

I was not aware of the current state of Affirmative Action, thanks for helping me learn a bit more about it.

One thing you'll learn is that there are scholarships for everything. Hell, ever heard of the Zolp Scholarship?

One thing you'll learn is that there are scholarships for everything. Hell, ever heard of the Zolp Scholarship?


No, do tell.

No, do tell.

It's a scholarship that's only open to people named Zolp.

It's a scholarship that's only open to people named Zolp.

..... is it a good scholarship?

..... is it a good scholarship?

Beats me. I don't think it's even around anymore.

Beats me. I don't think it's even around anymore.

damn *aborts name change*.

damn *aborts name change*.

It's still around, but you can't change your name.

The Zolp Scholarship is restricted to students at Loyola University in Chicago who are Catholic and whose last name is Zolp. The student's last name must appear on their birth certificate and confirmation certificate. The scholarship provides full tuition for four years.