Introduction
In a society where higher education is highly valued, the admission
standards for colleges and universities have been the subjects of many
controversies. One prominent debate begs the following question:
Should affirmative action be implemented nationally for the
undergraduate admission process to colleges and universities?
On one side are groups and organizations that support the idea that gender, race, and ethnicity should be taken into account for college admission because it promotes equality. On the other side are institutions that regard these threee characteristics as irrelevant to admission requirements and, therefore, believe affirmative action should not be implemented.
Controversy
The country is divided between those who support affirmative action and those who oppose it.
On one side are groups and organizations that support the idea that gender, race, and ethnicity should be taken into account for college admission because it promotes equality. On the other side are institutions that regard these three characteristics as irrelevant to admission requirements and, therefore, believe affirmative action should not be implemented.
Both sides value equality; however, this value is emphasized in two
drastically different ways.
- Proponents highlight equality by promoting diversity and attempting to rid higher education institutions of discrimination.
- Opponents highlight equality by ensuring that all applicants are held to a higher, equal standard based on academic success and leadership.
Parties
The following table identifies the 4 major parties on opposing sides of this argument:
Proponents:
- President Barack Obama
- American Association for Affirmative Action
Opponents:
- Former President George W. Bush
- Center for Equal Opportunity