Affirmative Action
Affirmative action policies were first enacted in 1965 with the bestof intentions -- to level the playing field for women and minority ethnicand racial groups. These policies have helped many people pursue highereducation and as a result, secure better employment opportunities.However, in recent years, these same policies have given rise to charges ofreverse discrimination, particularly in regard to university admission This paper argues for the continued need for affirmative actionpolicies that give more consideration to the special circumstances ofracial and ethnic minorities. This position is based on three mainarguments. First, race and socio-economic class continue to play a largerole in the academic performance of many minority students. Second,critics of race-based affirmative action fail to address the related issueof "developmental" admissions, which give preference to children from Finally, this paper points out that by increasing diversity oncampuses, affirmative action in schools can have a long-term positiveeffect on American society as a whole. Because of these mitigatingcircumstances, this paper argues for the continued nee
over half the black studentsin selective colleges today would have been rejected. In addition to socio-economic circumstances, Jackson points out thatmany minority students are further disadvantaged by continuing racism inthe country. to allow one sort ofpreference, but not the other. "[7]Affirmative action benefits everyone Proponents of affirmative action such as Martin Michaelson believethat these equalizing policies help more than just racial minorities. It is also interesting to note that these developmentalstudents are held to a different academic standard compared to theirregularly admitted counterparts. "Race-Baiting and the 1996 Presidential Campaign. However, there is ample evidence that the admission ofminority students increases the racial diversity on campus. Though much has changed in terms of civil rights, criticscontend that racism continues in more subtle forms. According to them, "if universities were flatlyprohibited from considering race in admissions. Affirmative action policies in universities combat the effectsof discrimination and racism through long-term strategies such as educationand training. ForMichaelson, this diversity further enriches the academic as well aspersonal development of all students on campus. " In this process, students seeking admission to elite universitiesare given additional consideration if their parents are alumni or potentialdonors.
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Acceptance Essays
