Possible Consquences about lying that you are a URM?

[Matthew]

This has also been a problem for froups that use politically correct terminology.  The person would check the African American box and turn out to be a white person who is actually an African American.

Then that's not REALLY lying, now is it? 

Not if the person was ignorant of what was really being asked.  But I think it would be if they knew exactly what it meant and were taking advantage of semantics.

[wellpreserved]

Not too sure if this is a state or district thing, but I worked in a California school district where we kept records of every student, including their ethnicity. They were listed with a numerical code (700-white, 600-black, 500-hispanic, 400-asian, etc.) Every student that passed through our elementary, middle, or high school had a profile. I'm sure that if you were a bit suspect in your self-classification (and I'm not talking about the marginal "I can't tell what the heck he is" scenario) the bar could easily dig some of this up.

Also, whenever a minority student accepts an offer at a law school, one of the first people to hear about it are the student leaders of the certain group. Since every year the number of blacks or hispanics at a law school is between 0-15 (looking at NALP stats) each student receives a lot of attention. If you were clearly white as the fallen snow and your name went to the black law students group, I could only imagine the reaction when you show up to orientation. I heard of a student group in CA (at the undergraduate level) that called out someone in a scenario just like this and I'm pretty sure there was a stink at CLS about a female applicant who checked black but didn't look it. I'll try to find more info about it.

Finally, let us not underemphasize the importance schools place on your diversity statement and the effect your race has had in your life (in your PS for example) not to mention factors such as if you were a minority and the first one in your family to go to college, economic status, etc. It is here where you might find yourself in some trouble.   

Thank you! Not that anyone here will directly address your assertions but I know my experience certainly proved true the fact that your race is tracked from the moment you register in a public school system. Again, how else would schools know if they were in compliance with bussing and diversity regulations and how would we get those nifty "minority kids fall ever farther behind" statistics if no one was tracking race?

And I was pretty sure that self-identified minorities were acknowleged on campus, thus the school's due diligence in recruiting them (why recruit them if you don't plan to keep track of them in any way?). I can imagine the scenario you named above. Again, I don't think it'd be the adcomms who'd nail you but the other students/faculty who would cause a ruckus. And they don't have to prove anything, just raise enough doubt for you to be known as the lying sack of feces that tried to hold both your white privlege card and a bogus minority card to effectively scam every system. I'm thinking you wouldn't be too popular with career placement.

[BearlyLegal]

Wait... there is a white privilege card? Why didn't I get one of these? Dammit. I have to go downtown and check with the office of cracker affairs. They always @#!* things up down there. 

[wellpreserved]

Wait... there is a white privilege card? Why didn't I get one of these? Dammit. I have to go downtown and check with the office of cracker affairs. They always @#!* things up down there. 

For saying cracker affairs YOU win the internet! LOL The whole kit and caboodle...with extra porn of your choosing. LOL

[BearlyLegal]

[sc3pt0r]

No, no, no....we, as whites, are to be the sole users of the "C-word".  No other race can say it, or we will kick his/her ass.  I'd like to see you say the "C-word" in an all white neighborhood. 

[Matthew]

Not too sure if this is a state or district thing, but I worked in a California school district where we kept records of every student, including their ethnicity. They were listed with a numerical code (700-white, 600-black, 500-hispanic, 400-asian, etc.) Every student that passed through our elementary, middle, or high school had a profile. I'm sure that if you were a bit suspect in your self-classification (and I'm not talking about the marginal "I can't tell what the heck he is" scenario) the bar could easily dig some of this up.

Also, whenever a minority student accepts an offer at a law school, one of the first people to hear about it are the student leaders of the certain group. Since every year the number of blacks or hispanics at a law school is between 0-15 (looking at NALP stats) each student receives a lot of attention. If you were clearly white as the fallen snow and your name went to the black law students group, I could only imagine the reaction when you show up to orientation. I heard of a student group in CA (at the undergraduate level) that called out someone in a scenario just like this and I'm pretty sure there was a stink at CLS about a female applicant who checked black but didn't look it. I'll try to find more info about it.

Finally, let us not underemphasize the importance schools place on your diversity statement and the effect your race has had in your life (in your PS for example) not to mention factors such as if you were a minority and the first one in your family to go to college, economic status, etc. It is here where you might find yourself in some trouble.   

Thank you! Not that anyone here will directly address your assertions but I know my experience certainly proved true the fact that your race is tracked from the moment you register in a public school system. Again, how else would schools know if they were in compliance with bussing and diversity regulations and how would we get those nifty "minority kids fall ever farther behind" statistics if no one was tracking race?

What are you talking about?  I've been addressing these assertions.  I've seen my permanent record, it has no mention of race.  Not all schools have bussing or diversity regulations, especially in states not on the coasts.  There is no record of my race on my birth certificate, public school record, or college records, it doesn't exist. 

Maybe some people have these contradictions, but again, no one has any knowledge of anyone ever getting in trouble for this kind of thing.  You can talk about other students being pissed, dishonest people getting caught, and how thorough the bar examiners are.  It's all baseless speculation about a situation unique enough to make your comparisons invalid.

And they don't "track them."  They recruit them because they get to put another person in the minority column and help some disadvantaged people.  They don't follow up.  Anna Ivey (maybe not perfect, but certainly more qualified than you) says there are no consequences.  I'd love to see one instance or document beyond your opinion that suggests otherwise, but I'd be shocked if you could find one.

[sc3pt0r]

Oh, us crackers and our cheeses! 

[Slim]

Okay, just to give you some background...I am a minority, but I don't consider myslef a URM.  Nevertheless, most people when looking at me are very confused by my race, becacuse I'm mixed.  I could pass as mexican american if I wanted to, based on the color of my skin and the way I look.  Anyways, that really has nothing to do with my question:


Is there any negative consquences if you "check the box" saying that you are some kind of URM (African American, Native American, Mexican American, etc.) when you aren't when you are applying to law school?  I mean, law schools don't define what these different races mean.  Could you still qualify as a Native American if you grew up in a primarily native american community and identify with native americans and their culture?  The law school applications don't provide a specific defintion, so it seems like it's open to interpretation....and if you take it to the most liberal extent, maybe anyone can consider themselves to be a URM given the proper context, regardless of the color of their skin.  Also, it's not like law schools check the color of your skin, or verify your race somehow - since it's all self selection.  So why not check the box?  The advantages are too great to pass up, in terms of admissions and scholarships...depending on which URM you are its equivalent of getting a 6-9 pt boost on the LSAT.  And, they aren't going to revoke your acceptance just because you dont "look" like a particular URM right? 

This is a serious question - I have always wondered this.  I am not necessarily against affirmative action, but, I have always wondered what prevents people from just cheating - since there seems to be no or little verification that the person is infact the race they claimed to be.  Let me know your thoughts on this.

Yea there is a consequence.  You could be discriminated against.
People will treat you like a special case as if you didn't work just as hard as everyone else, and you aren't as intelligent. 

[wellpreserved]

Okay, just to give you some background...I am a minority, but I don't consider myslef a URM.  Nevertheless, most people when looking at me are very confused by my race, becacuse I'm mixed.  I could pass as mexican american if I wanted to, based on the color of my skin and the way I look.  Anyways, that really has nothing to do with my question:


Is there any negative consquences if you "check the box" saying that you are some kind of URM (African American, Native American, Mexican American, etc.) when you aren't when you are applying to law school?  I mean, law schools don't define what these different races mean.  Could you still qualify as a Native American if you grew up in a primarily native american community and identify with native americans and their culture?  The law school applications don't provide a specific defintion, so it seems like it's open to interpretation....and if you take it to the most liberal extent, maybe anyone can consider themselves to be a URM given the proper context, regardless of the color of their skin.  Also, it's not like law schools check the color of your skin, or verify your race somehow - since it's all self selection.  So why not check the box?  The advantages are too great to pass up, in terms of admissions and scholarships...depending on which URM you are its equivalent of getting a 6-9 pt boost on the LSAT.  And, they aren't going to revoke your acceptance just because you dont "look" like a particular URM right? 

This is a serious question - I have always wondered this.  I am not necessarily against affirmative action, but, I have always wondered what prevents people from just cheating - since there seems to be no or little verification that the person is infact the race they claimed to be.  Let me know your thoughts on this.

Yea there is a consequence.  You could be discriminated against.
People will treat you like a special case as if you didn't work just as hard as everyone else, and you aren't as intelligent. 

Please do not neglect to mention the added role of absolute authority on all issues ending in "ism". You may be called on to speak for an entire race of people while simultaneously having your judgment questioned because you are a member of said group of people and therefore inherently incapable of intelligent thought or discourse.

Some may think you took money/space that is rightfully thiers and will be quite vocal about it when you are in earshot.

You could become the darling of the admissions staff and your "free" time reserved for making them look good to other potential minorities that they expect you'll have some super secret special language and rapport with.

You may find your intellect questioned, your sexual prowess overblown after a night of drinking and your political leanings deemed unexamined.

Just a few of the possible consequences...