Leveling The Playing Field:

Affirmative Action For Todays College-Bound Students

Deliberation Nation Presented by:

Aisha Aliyu, Victor Alleyne, Divya Ammu, Corey Becker, Molly Burns, Courtney Clark,
David Joo, Melissa Lopez, Aaron Morris, Ashley Ogilvie, Mykaihla Sternick
Option 1: Affirmative Action based on race and gender
Suggested Policy Change: Establish nationwide legal standards for public universities
to maintain a level of racial and ethnic diversity.

Pros Cons

Many schools and workplaces It is argued that Affirmative Action also

are encouraged to include variety
of students. Diversity will be
desirable.
Encourages disadvantaged
students from different areas of
country to easily get admitted to
higher ranked universities.
Gives underrepresented students
a means to acquire higher
education that wouldnt otherwise
be afforded to them
Provides financial aid to students
that wouldnt be able to meet the
financial requirements of higher
education under other
circumstances
results reverse discrimination. That past
discrimination against minorities does not
justify present discrimination against a
majority race
It encourages mediocrity, for someone of a
minority not to aspire to be better because
they know they have an advantage based
on their race/gender
It is not a definite policy, AA is described as
positive steps taken to increase the
representation of women and minorities in
certain areas. It is not a clear and concrete
federal mandate, but rather a policy that is
open to interpretation

Option 2: Affirmative Action based on income

Suggested Policy Change: Keep Affirmative Action in place, but do it based on a
review of the students income and resources, and take their achievement into account
relative to those circumstances.
Pros Cons

Students with the same academic
potential but less family wealth than
their peers will have an equal chance
Eliminates the problem with admissions
not taking academic resources into
account when looking into GPA, SAT
scores, and level of classes (Lower-
income students often dont have the
same opportunities to get the higher
grades)
Students will be given a chance
whether or not they have family legacy
at a university (Often something that
can give students a leg-up, but may not
be the case for students with a history
of family poverty)
Purely quantitative, takes out social
Does not have a protection in place
for racial bias that may still exist in
admissions offices
Because African-Americans still
make up a large segment of the low-
income population, it is possible that
white students would still have a
huge advantage over African
American students
Parents can learn to hide household
income
It could create the same Mismatch
Theory that race-based affirmative
action does, that low-income
students from lesser schools will not
be prepared for schools they get
admitted into and it will leave them
 aspect, removes underlying social
narrative of what is needed for
minorities, economic disadvantage is
automatically a struggle, while race is
not
While racial preference only takes
upper level minority students, income
preference will give students of all
levels a fair chance
Disregarding socioeconomic status
creates a education gap between the
rich and poor, polarizing the groups and
further disadvantaging low income
students in the future
Option 3: Abolish Affirmative Action
Suggested Policy Change: Abolish Affirmative action in the college application and
admission processes.
Pros
Bases admissions to college solely on
academic requirements including high
school grades, GPA, testing scores, and
especially writing.
Places students in college environments
where they will fit
Does not take income and gender into
consideration, which is slowly being
deemed unconstitutional anyway.
Creates equality and Eliminates the
possibility of over-exaggeration of
minority status.
Eliminates establishments obligation to
fulfill quotas of race/other aspects that
could compromise a students
education.This actually creates diversity
in the academic environment that
extends beyond race and more into
diversity of the whole person.
falling behind and stressed out
Outside financial factors, such as
other college-bound children,
dependent family members living
with family, etc. pose financial stress
on family that isnt evident by annual
income figures
Cons
Takes more time and effort on the
part of the admissions office to
read all applications and use a
holistic approach.
Lacks fairness in the respect that
people in minorities are not give
the upper hand, if you believe that
they should. Everyone gets the
same opportunity to do with it what
they will. Everyone is given the
same box to stand on.
Can cause people to become
blind to race and ethnicity when it
is taken the wrong way.
Can give a lot of power to the
universities themselves in
decisions without strict regulations
on who they can accept.
Can create the effect of minorities
believing they wont get in without
race on their side.