Special Orientation Program For Students Of Color example essay topic

Every year millions of high school seniors apply to colleges and universities across the country. Some get in, some don't. These schools have strict policies on the criteria for the acceptance of such students. The criteria involve many aspects of a student's prior academic career, such as their academic standing, extra curricular activities and work ethic. These are criteria that put everyone on the same level because everyone has the ability to work harder or join more athletics.

However, no one can change the color of their skin, and colleges base their admissions on these variables as well. So racism, in a sense, affects even the most basic of human ideals, education. If all men are truly created equal, as it is written, then race should not matter. Why aren't college admissions based solely on merit? No person should be given an advantage based solely on the color of his or her skin.

Racism is the belief that one particular race is superior to another. Throughout history people have been persecuted or singled out because of the color of their skin, even in our own country. How can this be in a country that claims that all men are created equal? Racism is so much a part of American culture now that we have claims of reverse racism and programs implemented, such as affirmative action, not just to protect the rights of a different person but to further them along in life and to make things easier for them.

When this country was founded, it was believed that people that were born with a different color skin were inferior to those with white skin. They were in fact enslaved before America was actually founded, and this treatment continued until the country was nearly a hundred years old. Since then African Americans and other races have been attempting to reach equality in this country. One such method has been through education.

In America, intelligence for the most part is respected, just as much as hard work. College in this country is the epitome of both. In the university setting young adults are pushed to their limits. Their intelligence is tested on a daily basis in many different ways. Some classes involve heavy writing and still others involve written exams as their form of grading. Work ethic is also pushed.

Homework is assigned and the true student does these assignments to maintain their grades. However there are some that have it easier than others do both in college and on the road there. This is due to the racism they experienced many years ago. As a result programs called affirmative action have been implemented to make sure that people of a skin color other than that of white are given equal opportunities, when in fact all these programs do is make it unfair to others.

Perhaps the most important individual event ever to effect affirmative action in schools was passed by the Supreme Court in 1978. The Supreme Court Justice at the time, Lewis Powell, found the attainment of a diverse student body as a constitutionally permissible goal for a university exercising its educational judgement. He also found in the case that race was one factor contributing to diversity. This all started when Allan Bakke, a white male, sued the University of California, for what he claimed was an unfair practice.

His grievance with the school was that the medical school held 16 positions open solely for minority applicants. The Supreme Court agreed with Bakke that utilizing a specific quota to achieve diversity violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Powell noted that race could be considered a 'plus,' in addition to other academically relevant factors, in making admissions decisions. The Court in Bakke, however, was deeply split: six different Justices filed opinions, and none of these opinions won the support of a majority.

Powell's opinion has been looked upon as the 'swing vote,' given that he joined in other opinions on particular points (such as the determination that a quota system violated the Civil Rights Act) to create a majority. However, no other Justice joined in the portion of the opinion in which Powell addressed diversity alone as a permissible rationale for affirmative action. The lack of a strong consensus left Bakke as weak precedent and subsequent Supreme Court decisions have weakened the view that diversity alone is sufficient justification for affirmative action as well. The Court, however, has never overruled the Bakke case (Walsh, 7).

This weak precedent now stands as the only real relevant case regarding affirmative action in the college admissions process. If one analyzes the case from outside the Supreme Courts decision is ridiculous. What they are essentially saying is that in the admissions process itself it is a permissible practice to use race as a factor in the decision that needs to be made. However the Supreme Court Justices and the citizens they are meant to serve don't think that the person should then get any special privileges once they are accepted. Why should they get any privileges before if they aren't going to get any after? This goes against everything stated in the Constitution of our country.

The law of the land remains the U S. Supreme Court decision in the Bakke case in 1978 allowing colleges to consider race in making admissions decisions, but only as one factor among many. In the past few years, various courts have interpreted the ruling differently, and no university is certain how far it can go without violating the federal constitution. This has also put a damper on the admissions process and is a reason to simply revert back to the old way of doing things. A college should be able to make its decision based on everything that a person can work toward, a goal. If you play an instrument that is a reason for a college to look at you and say that he has something to offer our institution. However the color of ones skin cannot be changed under normal circumstances.

Therefore some people should be granted special treatment without any effort, that is a ridiculous concept. In the University of Virginia's application process a rating system is implemented in decision making. This rating system consists of the assigning of a numerical score in eight separate categories. Some examples are the awarding of points for scoring over 1300 on the SAT exam and others still for writing an exceptional essay.

However at the same time while a 3 was awarded for the elevated SAT score 2 whole points were awarded for being black. (Marcus 3) This system has since been argued over and removed but not without a fight. One of the system's most avid supporters is M. Rick Turner, the dean of UVA's office of African-American students. He supports the program with no doubts in its effectiveness. Mr. Turner also points out that the graduation rate of African-American students at UVA is 87%. This is the highest graduation rate in the country amongst all other public universities.

(Marcus 3) This is almost a flawless argument that Affirmative Action does indeed work. I think that in this case it just might but the approach to the idea is still very wrong. There should still be some sort of merit based system that an individual should have to pass first before his color is even taken into account if it is taken into account at all. On September 8th, 2000 Governor Jeb Bush, of the state Florida, announced that the number of freshman enrolled at the state's ten public universities had increased by twelve percent just this fall. This increase can be attributed to a program the governor implemented to end the use of racial preferences in the admissions process. In his program he eliminated all together Affirmative Action in the admissions process.

He then replaced it with a new plan. One that states that all students in the top twenty percent of their class are guaranteed acceptance in a state institution. Later on at a news conference Governor Bush said, "I love you guys. We " re announcing historic numbers and you think we " re setting people up for failure".

(Selingo, 2) This response was warranted after questions addressing the notice taken by some educators that their student's academic quality had staggered slightly. The reason for this was the lack of competitive High School's sending students to the colleges. We " re convinced that the students we " re admitting can do college level work". (Selingo, 3) In a recently published article, Berkeley's African American professor John H. McWhorter writes about his experiences with African American students". Affirmative action-a necessary evil 30 years ago, he says, comparing it to chemotherapy's role against cancer-has now become a way for black students with mediocre academic records to leap ahead of more-qualified white and Asian students in gaining admission to elite colleges. Once they are there, he says, the black students on average continue to do poorly.

Many of them graduate, but without learning much". (Reisberg 3) Even the black community realizes that affirmative action should no longer be in place. However there are some advantages to Affirmative Action. If used in the right manner and not taken advantage of affirmative action can be beneficial.

It should not however be used as a crutch for the advancement of one race because of their color. McHorter gives many examples of African American students failing to make the grade. One such student proposed that her senior thesis be a socioeconomic commentary on her family history. On the due date the student turned in on simple notebook paper, sketched in pencil, a family tree. Another student, also African American, turned in a midterm examination that was so bad McHorter wondered if he had been attending class. After this the student still continued to not appear in class and never turned in a final paper.

"Sad as it is to say, I have gradually had to admit that this sort of thing has been the norm for black students I have taught", (Reisberg 2). McHorter also states in his novel that black Americans tend to blame their problems on racism, oppression, poverty, and under-financed inner-city schools. However McHorter argues that this is not the truth at all. He states that black students of all classes and income levels lag behind their white counterparts simply because of a mindset endemic to black culture that discourages learning.

(Reisberg 2) The Senior Dean of UVA suggests that one reason college admissions arouses so much anger is, "For a lot of kids, this is their first experience with the hard adult world, where you try, you try, you try and you still end up getting frustrated. (Marcus 7) However feelings surrounding Affirmative action are much deeper than this. We have all convinced ourselves that in fact everything we have in life has been given to us due to our hard work and our dedication when in fact it isn't. So many events that shape our lives occur not simply because we are deserving, but because we are lucky. In 1996 a step toward the future was made. In the state of California the passage of proposition 209 banned the use of racial preferences statewide.

This angered many students and faculty across the state. Defenders of affirmative action argued that the policy would bar black children who grew up in poverty. (Reisberg 2) However the proposition states clearly that children of a poor economic background will be given preference. (Reisberg 3) This proposition holds true to the principles of this country. Those who cannot afford to attend a university are given the assistance they need, but not based on their color. It is based on merit.

The excuse presented by many supporters of Affirmative action leans toward the notion that the black community is in need of monetary need for college education. For those who are truly in need I believe they should be granted their need. However a problem is that this monetary need only exists in a limited fashion. In fact half of the African American community entering the freshman class in the year 1999 had parents whose incomes reached at least $40,000 a year.

(Reisberg 2) In recent years, there has also been an increase in campus privileges. Many minority students have demanded and received separate dormitories from majority students. (Alt bach & Lomotey 11) A white student at Berkeley states to her professor, "It's people like you, your age group that wanted affirmative action. Now people like me must pay. I'm White. I come from a single parent family.

I worked hard; I was a top student. I deserved to be admitted. Now I get here and I am practically made to feel guilty that I am white and got admitted. Why should people who haven't worked as hard as I have be here?" (Browne & Miller 84) That same question I asked myself when I was in high school and saw people coasting by and their acceptance letters were pouring in while I waited.

It is unfair to those who actually put in their best effort and they get passed over because of their skin color. There are even special programs for individuals of color. A big part of choosing a university is the first impression. "Elon College in North Carolina offers a special orientation program for students of color. Black freshmen get to know one another as they consider potentially real issues-like dealing with a narrow-minded roommate.

First year students are also assigned peer and faculty mentors, as well". (Meacham 2) These privileges are not offered to the normal student. Instead they are given a separate, normal orientation without the extra support or friends. I am sure that all college students would love to have a mentor. For most this is a trying experience. It is their first time away from home without the support of their families or friends.

They are ultimately alone and a mentor to step through the experience with them would help. However this is a privilege that is provided for African American students only. The Miami University of Ohio offers nearly 20 scholarships to students of color, including six full scholarships to those who pursue the field of either Education or Allied Professions. (Kleiner, 1) These monetary advantages are not the only steps being implemented to create a false sense of equality. Rashid Shahid, an African American senior at Middlebury College in rural Vermont, states", The hair thing is a big issue. The fact that you are not able to get your hair cut unless you travel 45 minutes to Burlington is tough".

(Kleiner, 1) Now the fact that this individual would make a statement in this context in and of itself is racist. Why can't he get his hair cut at a normal barbershop like the rest of the population? However that isn't the worst of it. Kleiner goes on to state that colleges are taking notice.

Kenyon College, in Gambier, Ohio, brings in a stylist who specializes in the hair care of African Americans once a week and also transports students 60 miles to a black church on each Sunday. This special attention is unfair also. I believe that everyone should receive the same treatment. To me this completely goes against the fundamental ideas of college.

However perhaps this is just simply a way to show us that this is the way the real world works. That affirmative action is everywhere and it cannot be simply extinguished. It needs to be changed, so that once again all men are created equal.

Bibliography

Altbach, Philip G. and Kofi Lomotey. The Racial Crisis in American Higher Education. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1991.
Browne-Miller, Angela. Shameful Admissions. San Francisco: Jossey Bass Inc., 1996.
Kleiner, Carolyn. "Wanted: a whole rainbow of talent Colleges are vying for minority students". U.S. News and World Report 18 Volume 129 Sep. 2000.
Marcus, Amy Docker. "Class struggle". Money Volume 29 Oct. 2000.
Meacham, Jon. "The new face of race" Newsweek Volume 136 Sep/ 18, 2000.
Reisberg, Leo. "A professor's controversial analysis of why black students are losing the race" The Chronicle of Higher Education Volume 46 11 Aug. 2000.
Selingo, Jeffrey. Florida's universities see rise in minority enrollment after end of racial preferences". The Chronicle of Higher Education Volume 47 8 Sep. 2000.
Pages 1-3. Walsh, Laurie A. et al. "Affirmative action in American higher education and the goal of diversity in physical therapy programs" Journal of Physical Therapy Volume 14 Spring 2000.