Comments on: Ban Legacy Preferences http://www.acri.org/blog/2008/12/02/ban-legacy-preferences/ "Race has no place in American Life or Law" Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:22:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Booker Rising http://www.acri.org/blog/2008/12/02/ban-legacy-preferences/comment-page-1/#comment-264 Booker Rising Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:13:41 +0000 http://www.acri.org/blog/?p=518#comment-264 <strong>LA SHAWN BARBER COMMENTARY: Ban Legacy Preferences...</strong> Asserts the conservative blogger, over at the American Civil Rights Institute blog: "Inside Higher Ed briefly reviews the legal arguments against legacy preferences. Lawyers cite the 1866 Civil Rights Act, which some contend bars legacy admissions at.... LA SHAWN BARBER COMMENTARY: Ban Legacy Preferences…

Asserts the conservative blogger, over at the American Civil Rights Institute blog: “Inside Higher Ed briefly reviews the legal arguments against legacy preferences. Lawyers cite the 1866 Civil Rights Act, which some contend bars legacy admissions at….

]]> By: Christopher Wiseman http://www.acri.org/blog/2008/12/02/ban-legacy-preferences/comment-page-1/#comment-262 Christopher Wiseman Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:48:56 +0000 http://www.acri.org/blog/?p=518#comment-262 Perhaps my belief is far too simplistic but I have always believed that the most effective "affirmative action" should be based on economic need rather than a completely subjective category such as race. Further as we become more of a "multicultural" society, do we revert to the "one drop" Jim Crow laws to determine "blackness" or are formulas to be based on racial/ancestral percentages, i.e., Obama would be entitled to only a 1/2 affirmative action score? Economic need and poverty bare no preference for sex, race, religion, or cultural group. Whether in Appalachia or North Las Vegas, poverty breeds crime, lack of business and educational opportunity, and economic resources, yet the potential for success in the individual, knows no boundaries. Identifying [insert student, small business, etc.] with the drive to succeed, the demonstrated ability to succeed, and the willingness to take responsibility for actions both good and bad, are factors that would indicate a far greater chance of success than determinations based in whole or in part with race or gender. In the case of legacy preferences in public institutions, the test should be no different. Economic disadvantage is real, it is quantifiable, and it can be remedied in an even handed way. This country was founded with abhorrence for built in systems for economic and political power found in the monarchies of Europe. The legacy of our educational system should be of merit, not money. Perhaps my belief is far too simplistic but I have always believed that the most effective “affirmative action” should be based on economic need rather than a completely subjective category such as race. Further as we become more of a “multicultural” society, do we revert to the “one drop” Jim Crow laws to determine “blackness” or are formulas to be based on racial/ancestral percentages, i.e., Obama would be entitled to only a 1/2 affirmative action score?

Economic need and poverty bare no preference for sex, race, religion, or cultural group. Whether in Appalachia or North Las Vegas, poverty breeds crime, lack of business and educational opportunity, and economic resources, yet the potential for success in the individual, knows no boundaries.

Identifying [insert student, small business, etc.] with the drive to succeed, the demonstrated ability to succeed, and the willingness to take responsibility for actions both good and bad, are factors that would indicate a far greater chance of success than determinations based in whole or in part with race or gender.

In the case of legacy preferences in public institutions, the test should be no different. Economic disadvantage is real, it is quantifiable, and it can be remedied in an even handed way. This country was founded with abhorrence for built in systems for economic and political power found in the monarchies of Europe. The legacy of our educational system should be of merit, not money.

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