Common Sense on "Diversity" vs. Silly UW Statement

Well, here begins an interesting chapter in Wisconsin history: whether Dr. Martin Luther King was right or not--and whether "diversity" in and of itself "benefits" students and "improves" their career prospects.

One measure would draft a constitutional amendment that would prohibit state agencies and public universities from granting preferential treatment to any individual or group based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.

Sorta like '...not the color of their skin, but the content of their character (and qualifications)?'

Other proposals, crafted by Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend), chairman of the Special Committee on Affirmative Action, would:

• Require racial or ethnic minorities applying to the UW System or state contracting agencies to prove they are at least 25% that race or ethnicity to receive preferential consideration.

(To prohibit the common scam of appointing a "window dressing" CEO backed entirely by 'majority' money--or the also-common scam of appointing one's wife the CEO of a company while she may not even have the keys to the front door of the office.)

• Require racial or ethnic minorities applying to the UW System to demonstrate "knowledge or experience" of their racial or ethnic group to receive preferential consideration. If applicable, the applicant would have to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English.

"Well, SURE, I'm a minority. Thirty-two generations back, one of my ancestors came from X. No, I don't really know where that IS, mind you,..."

• Prohibit the UW System from considering the race or ethnicity of an applicant unless the applicant proves that his or her family makes less than 400% of the federal poverty level ($80,000 for a family of four).

"Of COURSE I need scholarships, grants, and premium treatment. No matter that Daddy is the #2 officer at this Fortune 50 firm. After all, I'm a minority!!"

Thanks to Glenn for volunteering to become the next Pariah/racist/homophobe-nominee; in other words, for taking on a completely thankless job.

"The affirmative action bureaucracy has grown beyond its original intent," Grothman said. "Affirmative action began in the 1960s when there was racism against black people. Now it tells people that they are first and foremost a racial or ethnic group and therefore entitled to benefits. That's a dangerous place to go."

David Giroux, a spokesman for the UW System, said there was a "compelling need for diversity" in public universities and that it would be a shame for the Legislature to move against affirmative action, which he described as a "divisive issue."

"Diversity benefits all students, improving the quality of their education and their prospects for career success," he said.

--an assertion that has absolutely NO foundation whatsoever. Giroux perhaps MEANT to say that "EDUCATION benefits all students, improving their prospects for career success."

That's what he should have said. But count on the Elite Pointy-Headed Crowd to make the AlGore argument--that there IS no argument about the assertion made by Giroux.

HT: Random10