Reply to Harvard's odd quota on Asian-Americans

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]Asian American admission rates are the same as overall admission rates.  That's not evidence of racial discrimination or a quota.  [/quote]

Absolutely irrelevant. What matters is the comparative admission rates of kids at a same level of preparedness.

[quote]And casting the argument in these terms really suggests that the grievance is not that Asian Americans are kept out of Harvard but that African Americans and Hispanics are let in.[/quote]

I don't see how. (And I am Hispanic, btw, so please don't try to speak on my behalf). What I see Asian Americans doing now is similar to what Jewish Americans had to do decades ago, this is, to prevent discrimination against them. If they deserve more seats, they should get them.

And, those seats could come from multiple sources, from legacy to sports preferences to mainstream admissions to, why not, affirmative action policies.

It is you the one transforming "Asians fighting for their rights" into "Asians attacking blacks."[/quote]

FWIW, I was responding to a post that listed admissions rates (varying from 5.3 to 6.4%) for four groups:  overall, Asian American, Black, and Hispanic.  The commenter's claim was that this data showed Asian Americans were being discriminated against.  It doesn't.  And pointing out that using this particular set of data points makes the grievance look like it is that African Americans and Hispanics are getting too much rather than that Asians are getting too little isn't an attempt to "speak on behalf" of either group but to point out that all the data shows is that Asian Americans admissions are at the norm (5.3% was both the overall and the Asian American admissions rate) while the other two groups are above the norm. The fact that no admissions data on legacies, athletes or other subgroups was presented (and the lawsuits in question don't challenge those bases for preferential admissions) reinforces the perception.

"Asian Americans are more qualified" is a separate argument, one that this data doesn't speak to, and one that is unpersuasive unless it rests on a more robust understanding of what constitutes qualification in this context.  As has been pointed out numerous times already, thousands of highly qualified students -- including many white students -- get rejected by Harvard every year.  And SAT scores and GPAs aren't the only or best indicator of academic abilities/level of preparation which, in turn, isn't the only consideration in admissions decisions.[/quote]

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