So, how about that SCOTUS decision on using race as a factor for college/university admission?

https://supremecourt.gov/opini...pdf/20-1199_hgdj.pdf

quote:

Held: Harvard’s and UNC’s admissions programs violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
...
Eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it. Accordingly, the Court has held that the Equal Protection Clause applies “without regard to any differences of race, of color, or of nationality” — it is “universal in [its] application.”

Thoughts?

It’s past due. It seems indefensible as implemented at Harvard. And some of the details that came out of discovery were atrocious (like emails making jokes about how many accomplishments an Asian kid would need in order to be admitted).

Shift to SES-based AA, it’ll keep the black and Hispanic numbers from collapsing and is morally defensible

Universities won’t though, I suspect, they’ll use other proxies for race and keep fighting court challenges with all the embarrassing discovery that entails.

why can't they just make the applications completely color blind?

I personally find it offensive that someone might be more likely to hire me just because I'm female. My work and accomplishments stand on their own.

Also, even though Jews--an ethnic minority, and until recently considered a separate race--are a much smaller minority than most of the protected classes, they have never been offered protection through affirmative action. Gee, why is that? Because, as everyone knows, they already rule the world?

quote:

Originally posted by jon-nyc:

Shift to SES-based AA, it’ll keep the black and Hispanic numbers from collapsing and is morally defensible

What is SES-based AA?

There's an interesting development in the orchestra auditioning world.

About 20 years ago people were upset that orchestras weren't hiring enough minority and women players, and it was thought that the way to correct for that was to hide the performers behind a screen so the judges couldn't be prejudiced against the gender or race of the applicant.

It definitely helped women get hired for these positions; you can see that from the makeup of contemporary orchestras. But there's still a dearth of minority players.

So now the call is for getting rid of the screens so that if minority players apply, they will stand out and be favored in the cause of greater representation.

seriously???? keep the screens! if the minority candidates are the best players, they will be hired.

quote:

Originally posted by RealPlayer:

quote:

Originally posted by jon-nyc:

Shift to SES-based AA, it’ll keep the black and Hispanic numbers from collapsing and is morally defensible

What is SES-based AA?

“Socio-economic status”

quote:

Originally posted by piqué:
seriously???? keep the screens! if the minority candidates are the best players, they will be hired.

There may be some benefit to having minority players hired, such as encouraging minority students to take up an instrument, learn to play, join an ensemble.

J

quote:

Originally posted by Jack Frost:

quote:

Originally posted by piqué:
seriously???? keep the screens! if the minority candidates are the best players, they will be hired.

There may be some benefit to having minority players hired, such as encouraging minority students to take up an instrument, learn to play, join an ensemble.

J

save it for the amateur orchestras. when it comes to the new york philharmonic, or the berlin philharmonic, or the chicago symphony, i don't care what color the players are, so long as their performances are the finest it is possible to hear. if removing the screens means the best orchestras will not sound as good, i don't think anything has been achieved at all. there is nothing more inspiring for the taking up of an instrument than hearing a superb performance. you know, the fact that arthur rubinstein was an old white male or that glenn gould was a white guy with aspergers played zero role in inspiring me to take up the piano. it was their artistry that inspired me, not their race, color, age, gender, or sexual orientation.

I'm pretty sure the U California has been using SES in their admission algorithms.

Even if not, the vast majority of schools don't use race as a criteria for admission, so a lot of this is immaterial for the typical student going to a public school.

But apparently schools are still allowed to use other specific characteristics when making admissions decisions, like athletic ability, legacy status and the like. Just not race, because, well, beats me.

quote:

Originally posted by Nina:
But apparently schools are still allowed to use other specific characteristics when making admissions decisions, like athletic ability, legacy status and the like. Just not race, because, well, beats me.

The short, boring answer is “race was the only thing being litigated.” The longer answer has to do with the origin and history of the 14th amendment and the very crude invidious discrimination carried out by Harvard against Asians.

New College had 2/500 Black students when I was there. Yes, I knew them both. I think it was shameful. I hope the College did better after I graduated.

Of course, DeSantis has ruined New College. I have no hope nor expectations for it going forward.

My Florida public high school was de facto segregated, as well.

And in the "gee, no one saw this coming" category, a group of Harvard students have filed a complaint because Harvard favors economically advantage children of alumni during admissions.

quote:

Originally posted by Nina:
And in the "gee, no one saw this coming" category, a group of Harvard students have filed a complaint because Harvard favors economically advantage children of alumni during admissions.

Hope to see more about this in the news.

Wealth redistribution … take from the families of the economically advantaged students, give to the economically disadvantaged students.

Some economist ought to do a paper on how many “rich legacy admits” it would take to subsidize one poor student in a scalable, sustainable manner.