[258] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: MIT admissions system [was: Re: extropians]
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Aimee L Smith)
Fri Apr 27 21:05:04 2001
Message-Id: <200104280103.VAA23792@gold.mit.edu>
To: "Jimmy_B,MajMoola,MechWarrior,etc._Chien-ta Wu" <jimmbswu@MIT.EDU>
cc: mit-talk@MIT.EDU, fyfer@MIT.EDU
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Fri, 27 Apr 2001 20:19:55 EDT."
<200104280019.UAA07728@MECHWARRIOR.MIT.EDU>
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Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 21:03:28 -0400
From: Aimee L Smith <alsmith@MIT.EDU>
What part of "in the noise" don't you understand?
If they can no longer DISTINGUISH between candidates,
then it certainly isn't a quota to fulfill certain
diversity goals. If not, what would be the "fair" ratio
of white men? An equal % of those who applied? What if they
are more likely to apply for equivalent merit? Representation
% to their percentage of the world population? % to
the national population?
It isn't a quota to NOT lower any standards to accept people.
Affirmative action says when candidates are indistinguishable
than you should take the one in the applicant pool who is
underrepresented, it never says lower standards. What is
wrong with that? We still have those nice folks running things like
at Texaco and their "black jelly bean" comments. First
get rid of racism and sexism, THEN get rid of affirmative
action. False perceptions about white male entitlement and thus
affirmative actions may be used against women and minorities, but
racism and sexism of both the overt and subtle kinds do much more harm
to closing opportunities to women and people of under-represented
minorities than this whining about "I didn't get in b/c I am a white
boy" ever did. Cal demonstrates that quite clearly.
FACT: it is easier to be offered opportunities if you are a white male
in this society. This is affirmative action for white men. It has been going
on way too long, it continues to persist and it should be STOPPED. It
is unfair to the white men who work hard that then have to 2nd guess whether
or not they got where they did on account of white male privilege.
It hurts them and therefor, for their confidence, it should be ended
immediately. Let's start with G.W. Bush, legacy admission at Yale,
HBS, below average grades his whole life, 3 time failed
business runner, who is deemed so "qualified" to run our country. You
need look no farther than that to remember that this white male
privilege is alive and well. And don't kid yourself, it is
here to. Just try working with the tech, or any upper level admin
office, or even look at the difference between how many advisors
treat their students based on gender and race... you need not look
far to find disturbing evidence.
(The funny thing to me is the women who vehemently disagreed with
me on this in undergrad and now, 5, 6 years later say, "I now see
what you were talking about..." )
This is not a matter of "quick fix", it is a matter of trying to get
away without fixing a damn thing...
Liana, don't believe the hype! And I hope your not wanting your
X chromosomes is some comment on your being a transexual and NOT an
internalized self-hatred... I am damn glad to be a woman and wouldn't
trade it for all the white male entitlement in the world!
Sincerely,
Aimee
