[url=http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/020218/opinion/18john.htm][b]An unfair ticket to college[/b][/url] by John Leo

(selected excerpts)

The University of California has hit upon a bright new idea. When picking a freshman class, it will give an edge to students who have coped with "personal struggle" and "difficult personal and family situations or circumstances."

Under this plan of "comprehensive review," an applicant's chances can rise if he or she has overcome a physical handicap, needed to work after school, was fired or "downsized" at work, lives in a single-parent or low-income home, or comes from a family in which neither parent went to high school. "Unusual family disruption" is a plus, too. So are any "unusual medical/emotional problems" on the part of the applicant.

This means students are rewarded for their parents' failures and for their own psychological problems as well. If Dad walks out on Mom or beats her up, or if you have a few suicide tries on your record, you might improve your chances of leaping over more academically qualified candidates who are short on family turmoil.
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"Diversity" now functions like a militant religion on campus. Some colleges force professors to sign diversity loyalty oaths, promising to introduce the faith into their courses, even ones on math and science.

Harvard Prof. Lani Guinier suggests that every college student be required to write an essay on diversity. And it is generally understood that anyone wishing to be president of a major university must be ready to promote diversity preferences despite what the law and the courts might say.

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The diversity lobby normally argues that every racial and ethnic group should have the same proportion of slots on campus as it does in the general population, regardless of which students did what in high school. "Comprehensive review" introduces a new standard: college admission as compensation or reward for a troubled life.

Two strains of cultural left thinking are coming together here: the quota culture and the victim culture. Colleges can legitimately seek students who show grit and persistence. But there is no doubt that victim status is about to become a valuable coin of the realm at the University of California. Single parenthood, which the cultural left usually insists is just as good as double parenthood, is framed as a disability in the admissions process.

The policy is implicitly condescending as well: It tries to usher in more blacks and Latinos by associating them with various dysfunctions. In looking for sociological indicators of race, while explicitly not mentioning race, the diversity lobby hopes to outwit the voters and the courts without getting caught.

This is the work of elites disdainful of the values of the middle and working classes. It is all a shoddy and antidemocratic effort by people who think the law doesn't apply to them.
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[b]"Yep, mighty fine looking group of freshman this year.  The best of the best!"[/b]

How about giving the "edge" to an applicant that has served his or her country for a few years, or maybe the children of vets, combat vets, wounded combat vets and slain or wounded police officers. But that's too easy.

How a family story of "personal struggle"....

As Dad grew up Grandpa taught him how to hunt, to live off the land, track and be self sufficient. Grandpa taught a father, then a grandson self reliance, patience, love and respect of nature. How to take care of and feed your family. Soon, when they pulled into their favorite spots they'd find flattened tires either from the roofing nails sprinkled by protestors, or just slashed tires. Protestors would walk through the woods, scaring game off, emptying Grandpa's dinner table.

Then they got the government involved. Lobbyists and PACs demonized the practices handed down for generations. They tried to regulate, license and restrict away what they couldn't change otherwise. Father, like his before him collected firearms, they wnated to restrict that too. Harrasment from the goverment with redundant forms, regulations and fees grew every year. "Celebrities" and politicians turned a generation against hunters, gun owners and collectors for their own self indulgence, votes and ratings. Registrations turned to bans, and confiscations. But they persevered through the hardships of these changing times, obeyed the law of the land and tried to continue the traditions passed down to them. Still suffering the scorn of the media, elected officials, and soccer moms without a clue, these Americans still try to exercise rights GUARANTEED them by the Constitution of the United States. But these pursuits, and flying a flag before Sept. 11th just earned disdain from fellow citizens.

How's that for personal struggle? Do I have the "edge"? Where's my scholarship?

Jackasses




Sherm

Sherm, read "Unintended Consequences" by John Ross......