Does Higher Education Need Affirmative Action?

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Does Higher Education Need Affirmative Action?

Introduction

Is affirmative action in higher education needed? This question provokes a myriad of emotions. Is affirmative action antiquated and unneeded in 21st century America? Or are the racial boundaries of this country’s ancestors still in effect? America’s Declaration of Independence states, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” yet quotas, check marks, and plus factors give minority students advantages in the admission processes of the country’s universities and colleges (NARA).

The obvious differences in what America says and what America does, leads one to believe that affirmative action has no place in higher education in a color-blind America.

This essay will discuss the benefits of affirmative action in higher education and the adverse effects of affirmative action in higher education. This essay will also give a perspective on the issues.

The Benefits of Affirmative Action in Higher Education

In order to be competitive in the higher education battleground, some academics believe that it’s essential that universities and colleges give minorities certain plus factors during the admission process. Many universities and colleges throughout the country believe that by instituting some form of affirmative action, the end result will be diversified campus demographics. The type of affirmative action each institution implements is different; however, each has the same goal of increasing minority admissions.

There are affirmative action programs developed especially to target minorities. These programs include recruit...

... middle of paper ...

..., Nathan. “Society Needs Affirmative Action in Higher Education.” Affirmative

Action. Ed. Brian J. Grapes. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc, 2000. 14-22.

Graglia, Lino A. “Affirmative Action Promotes Discrimination.” Affirmative

Action. Ed. Brian J. Grapes. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc, 2000. 47-50.

Hesse, Katherine A. “Affirmative Action – Undergraduate Admissions.” Benefits Quarterly 20 (Third Quarter 2004): 75.

Jones, Ed. “Is affirmative action necessary? NO: It’s time to judge on merit.” Denver Post 24 July 2003: B,07.

NARA. The Declaration of Independence. 18 October 2004.

<www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html>.

Sowell, Thomas. “Affirmative Action Harms Minority Students.” Affirmative

Action. Ed. Brian J. Grapes. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc, 2000. 51-53.

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