Einstein's Definition of Insanity

Albert Einstein has defined insanity as doing something over and over, expecting different results (to paraphrase).

I would propose a new definition, wrought by example. The new definition of insanity is based on California's Prop 209 (from 1996), which is taking different forms and spreading to outside states: proposals to end racism by...racism. Awesome.

California businessman Ward Connerly, himself an African American, has taken it as his duty to end "racist Affirmative Action" programs across the country. A quote:

I have seen firsthand the devastating effects that race preferences can have on young people. Contrary to what the proponents of "affirmative action" would lead you to believe, the issue of race preferences is not just about statistics and data, or clichés about "leveling the playing field" or providing "opportunities" for disadvantaged "minorities." Real lives are radically affected, and incalculable social and economic costs result when decisions are made about individuals based on the color of their skin or the origin of their ancestors.

Huh?

California' Prop 209 has been around California now for 10 years. The effect? Declining African American enrollment in major California Universities. The University of California and UCLA have each experienced a 3% decline to African American enrollment over the last 10 years, while overall enrollment has increased. Connerly's response?

"It's much more convenient to blame 209, and to blame the university's requirements, than to do the heavy lifting of getting our students prepared so that they can compete," Connerly says.

According to Connerly, the prestige of a UC diploma has upped the ante for everyone. Last year, more than 45,000 students applied to UCLA. Connerly says there are simply too few blacks who make the grade on the only standard that should count: academic merit.

As a counter-point, UCLA sociologists agree that UCLA's own enrollment process overall was equally to blame as Prop 209, but the reason one sociologist gave was that UCLA's admissions process "fails to take a student's background into account. [The Sociologist] says the University of California, Berkeley, which has a higher percentage of black students, takes a more holistic approach when reviewing an applicant's file."

Ward Connerly says, though, that that approach is simply "Affirmative Action in disguise."

UC Berkely's admissions process takes into account a student's high school performance as it relates to their background, family makeup, location and overall performance of their high school and other factors. In other words, a student from an inner-city high school, let's say Compton, who is able to get a 4.0+ GPA, plays an instrument, and is involved in sports, really ought to have a shot at college, where they will most likely compete quite well. But not according to Ward Connerly. The student from Orange County who is able to get a 4.2 GPA, has multiple Advanced Placement courses and access to collegiate-level coaches in high school is obviously more qualified, right?

Wrong. UC Berkely is absolutely right to take into account a student's entire history when looking at college admissions. This is where kids who excel against great odds finally get their shot at what people like me with my background take for granted: admission to college and a chance to advance. But Mr. Connerly would take even that shot away. Sure, on its face a 4.2 is better than the 4.0. But take in to account the sheer number of students who will get excellent grades from massively rich high schools, versus the kids from a single parent who lives in a gang-ridden part of LA...or New York...or Detroit for whom even going to school is a luxury. Should we relegate those students to Community Colleges and sub-par Universities**? The fact is that the kids from upper-middle-class suburbia will be able to attend pretty much their choice of higher education institutions. Indeed, Ward is correct in that we have to look at our public education systems to adequately prepare students for higher education, and in many cases, this is not happening in urban schools. But should we halt the current admissions practices of UCLA and UC Berkely, and many others, while we fix this complex problem, which could take decades? No way.

Mr. Connerly has taken his fight on the road to Michigan, in a ballot initiative called, confusingly, the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative. It will appear on Michigan’s ballot in November.

I should mention that Mr. Connerly’s group, and Mr. Connerly himself, makes about $1 million for each state he does this in. Who’s interest is this really in?

Go to this web site to find out more about how to oppose Mr. Connerly’s self-interested and racist voice in Michigan. And for God’s sake, vote “NO” in November on the purposefully-named Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, which it wholly is not.

**I am a Spartan fan. I had to get my shot in at U of M. GO STATE!