Yesterday I attended a scholarship competition at Central Michigan University. To qualify for the scholarship, you had to have a 3.5 GPA in highschool and a 28 on the ACT. Out of 2000 applicants, 42 are chosen for a full-ride scholarship. It's a great program, I wish more students recieved the scholarship, but that's not my point.
About 200 students were in attendance for the afternoon session. During the opening address, I noticed that the vast majority were white, most likely middle class. I counted 2 minority students in the entire group.
Imagine my surprise when I found out there were alternative scholarships for these students, ones with less stringent requirements.
If African Americans believe they are so highly discriminated against...why do they allow their students these advantages? Personally, I think students should be admitted on their individual merits, which is why I am a firm opponent of affirmative action. Beyond that, I understand that in general, African Americans aren't as wealthy as white Americans, but my family can not afford to pay for my college. I should be overlooked for scholarships because I'm White and not African-American even though I'm more qualified for the scholarship.
African Americans should be treated equally with white students. Financial situation of the families should be evaluated equally. Nothing should be based on the difference of skin color. Giving someone from Detroit a scholarship instead of someone from the suburbs a scholarship because one's black and the other is white is completely disregarding the intelligence of either student.
I think Black Americans should take affront to this also. They're not being judged on their merits rather their skin color. There are very intelligent minorities in the US, they should be rewarded for their intelligence, the same way white students are awarded for hard work and intelligence.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
1. Look up the words racist, you and so many people throw that word around so much and use it out of context. this blog has nothing to do with being you being a racist, and if people have called you that then they are just plain ignorant.
2. I'm "pro-equal choice" also so you're not just on your own about it.
3. Write to the university and then tell us what was the outcome. Too many times I read "Well this and this happened and I think it shouldn't be that way" but if I ask what did you do about it, chances are the did nothing. Hopefully you are not one of those people.
4. Affirmative action has benefited White females, Latinos, etc so be fair when you say you are a opponent of something and know why you are against it, the history, and why we are in the predicment we are in today. And if you already know I'd very much like to see your views ^_^
-----------------------------------------------------
"You're asking me to *read*?! I'm not even in class...and just to think I had to put on pants for this."
~npsm18
Best video evar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD8qubsp39M
I know what Affirmative Action is, I helped pass an amendment to the Michigan constitution banning it. I used it as an example. Everyone should be judged on their merits, not their circumstances except for financial need. Even then, the system of paying for college is screwed up because middle class students barely get any financial aid.
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/bamers
I agree 100%. I think it's more racist to have affirmative action and quotas of minority employee/students to fill than it is to judge everyone based on merit. I get really angry when people get more money for school because they bring more diversity to campus. I work hard, and I should have the same opportunities with financial aid as minority students do.
Luckily, I go to a California school and they didn't discriminate based on race. I remember that discriminating based on race actually threw out some Asians / Americans who had enough merit to go, but didn't get in JUST because they were Asian. Uhhh, isn't that discrimination, the opposite of what the schools are trying to do?
Everyone should get the same chance to get into college. No race has an advantage over another. It's not like we're totally different species with different intellectual capabilities.
i have tons to say about this, not enough energy and time to do it, I took a class at Penn called Race and Academic Achievement...and wrote a couple of personal opinion essays about this topic and a final that discusses everything. I want to share..I might if I find a way to stop being so lazy and tie it in with this discussion
BUT I pose this question to ALL : Do you think your race/economic status has anything to do with your academic achievement?
YES or NO
Wealth, however, does have one advantage over looks: beauty fades, interest accrues." -- Dan Savage
"Wealth never decreases because of charity." Prophet Muhammad (SAW)http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
I pose a question to you. Do you think the importance put on education by each race has anything to do with academic achievement?
I mean if we're gonna play point the finger game...
Yes it does, that's why there are financial aid scholarships, for people who have low income.
the beginning of a study by a law professor in California was published today. he believes that racial preferences do not help minority students succeed.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301722,00.html
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/bamers
I'm tired, I'll clarify in depth as to why i think your opinions on affirmative action are misguided and skewed, BUT tomorrow, too tired and have a lot to study.
"Wealth, however, does have one advantage over looks: beauty fades, interest accrues." -- Dan Savage.
"Wealth never decreases because of charity." Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight
You really neede a study to tell you that. It you only have to get an 80 and it looks like you got a 100 nine out of ten people are going to only strive for the 80. I hate to say this but its because of American Lazyness. I'm guilty and I bet all of you are too. I bet that if affermative action went the other way that study would find the same thing.
`Now Remember, this country is a Democracy that means that it only works if you participate. So Vote.
While perhaps in your situation is may be true that there was alternative treatment occurring, that is not true with all scholarships.
My husband and I get into this all the time as he is very conservative in his thinking. Yes, there are special awards just for African Americans... but did you ever stop to criticize the awards just for people with disabilities, or for left-handed people, or how about the scholarship one of my friends got simply because one of her eyes is blue and the other is green.. naturally.
There are a TON of scholarships out there for an exclusive group of people and I think that to pick on African Americans for that reason is just not right.
Go get a scholarship guide for any school. I've looked through 3 different ones in my college search. Scholarships for African Americans and Hispanics outnumbered scholarships for just anyone. If there's going to be scholarships for African Americans, why not have scholarships specifically for Caucasians? Instead, there's numerous scholarships for African Americans, and then more scholarships that anyone can win. It seems like a complete double standard.
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/bamers
I believe that scholarships should be based on academic merit and financial need. Those students that have worked hard in high school and earned good grades should be rewarded for their efforts. Colleges and universities are looking for the best and brightest students to be on their campuses and should use scholarships to reward and attract these students. Colleges and universities are also looking for diversity. They use scholarships to attract these minority students to achieve this desired diversity. But should academic merit be sacrificed to obtain diversity? I believe that diversity should not be shoved down our throats. Students should not be rewarded scholarships based on race or ethnicity to achieve diversity. Diversity should rely on academic merit. If colleges and universities award students that have the grades in both the majority and minority, diversity will then result as well as a bright student body. Consider grades before race and ethnicity. Use the same standards on all students applying to the school and for scholarships.