Is it right to give someone preference because of their race?
Race is not the only factor that makes up a URM. Things such as handicaps and sex make up that category as well.
Isn't that the question here. We would all probably agree that it was an immoral practice for schools to give preference to someone because they were White and Protestant when they did.
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It is not about preference being given to a person only because of their color, sex or handicap. AA is about evening the playing field for UnRepresented Minorities. The action is enforced to cultivate progress in academia's atmosphere, political system and eventually our culture. There is no progress without different points of view being heard. This is what makes America so great.
One of my professors would always emphsize that ethics should always be consistent- otherwise they are just justifications. Why can't they have an application with no RACE box?
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There is always the choice not to record your race if it means that much to anyone.
If Harvard wants to admit URM's despite their lower scores, why would it be wrong for another school to admit whate males over minorities with lower scores because they want more white males?
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All URM's do not have lower scores. Many times their scores are higher than the majorities' that make up the percentiles that were accepted. URM status helps when the background of an individual limits the access to certain opportunities that the majority take advantage of.