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The Other Affirmative Action | 81 comments (81 topical)

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No-- (none / 0) (#52)
by Deconstructionist on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 03:50:05 PM EST
  There is no showing that either the rich kids or the minorities granted waivers are "unqualified." They are simply less qualified (in the narrow sense of grades and test scores)  than some other applicants who are not admitted.

  "Unqualified people would not be able to pass their classes and graduate. If someone --regardless of the method of selection-- is capable of doing the work and graduating then by definition they were qualified.

  And, you really should have quit while behind, because if two times as many white students flunk out of a population 80% white then the minority students are failing at a significantly higher rate.

  100 students
    80 white
   20 minority

   8 whites   --10%-- flunk out 4 minority 20%.

[ Parent ]

You Make BTD's Point (5.00 / 1) (#55)
by squeaky on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 03:56:51 PM EST
The failing minority numbers are hardly significant enough to support the standard argument against affirmative action. Hiding behind percentages gives false strength to the anti affirmative action crowd.

[ Parent ]
I tried a hypothetical (none / 0) (#58)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 03:59:43 PM EST
to see if he understands the point that way.

[ Parent ]
5:00 Friday (none / 0) (#54)
by Deconstructionist on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 03:55:07 PM EST
  If you feel compelled to beat on this some more I'll check in Monday but i'm heading to the mountains.

[ Parent ]
No need (none / 0) (#57)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 03:59:13 PM EST
Enjoy the weekend.

I think when you come back you will see your error.

[ Parent ]

Unqualified here meaning (none / 0) (#56)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 03:58:22 PM EST
based solely on academic records (or "merit" as some want to describe it.)

Unqualifed to be accepted.

Frankly, you still have no idea what the point is.

I'll use the hypothetical I just gave Pancho to see if you can understand the point:

Let's consider a hypothetical.
Let's say you are a student, a white student, with no special factors that weigh in favor of your admission except your academic record.
You apply to a school.

It has 1000 slots. Of those slots, a certain number x, are likely to go to students because of factors other than academic record.

0.67x of those students admitted are white.

0.33x of those students admitted are non-white.

Which of the preferences applied is most likely to cause you to lose a place that, absent consideration of those factors. you would otherwise have?

What is more likely to cause "unfairness" to you?

That is the point. The statistic clearly overwhelmingly supports that point.

[


[ Parent ]

The Other Affirmative Action | 81 comments (81 topical)

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