Steve
06-07-2003, 12:06 AM
It may help you understand the issue I raise if you first read this article (http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/06/06/black.recruits.ap/index.html) from CNN.
Many of us have argued that affirmative action is merely a form of discrimination, no matter how well-intentioned its aims may be. I believe it is likely that the Supreme Court will hold that to be true, as well. But let's think about moving beyond affirmative action. The intent of affirmative action is good: to bring minority enrollment in colleges and universities proportionate to levels approaching their representation in the general population. How can that be done without quotas and traditional affirmative action programs?
One solution is to market aggressively to the targeted minorities. Spend time and money on attempting to reach minority populations, attract them to the schools, and make them aware of various financial aid packages and other incentives. Of course, as the CNN piece shows, even that does not guarantee success. It is, however, a start.
The question I have, then, in the absence of affirmative action programs, is this: "Are outreach and marketing efforts targeted solely toward minorities acceptable methods for increasing minority enrollment?"
There are some who may argue that, as long as the efforts are targeted only at minorities, the practice is still discriminatory. I would disagree with that argument. I see such efforts as positively oriented and as constituting more of an information dissemination effort. I do not see how such selective marketing and outreach harms non-minorities, and so I think it's an acceptable approach.
Whether or not it's viable, remains to be seen.
Many of us have argued that affirmative action is merely a form of discrimination, no matter how well-intentioned its aims may be. I believe it is likely that the Supreme Court will hold that to be true, as well. But let's think about moving beyond affirmative action. The intent of affirmative action is good: to bring minority enrollment in colleges and universities proportionate to levels approaching their representation in the general population. How can that be done without quotas and traditional affirmative action programs?
One solution is to market aggressively to the targeted minorities. Spend time and money on attempting to reach minority populations, attract them to the schools, and make them aware of various financial aid packages and other incentives. Of course, as the CNN piece shows, even that does not guarantee success. It is, however, a start.
The question I have, then, in the absence of affirmative action programs, is this: "Are outreach and marketing efforts targeted solely toward minorities acceptable methods for increasing minority enrollment?"
There are some who may argue that, as long as the efforts are targeted only at minorities, the practice is still discriminatory. I would disagree with that argument. I see such efforts as positively oriented and as constituting more of an information dissemination effort. I do not see how such selective marketing and outreach harms non-minorities, and so I think it's an acceptable approach.
Whether or not it's viable, remains to be seen.