Leon 1 Christina Leon John Kubler English 114A 29 November 2013 Which Is More Important?

According to the Supreme Court of the United States, a white female who goes by the name of Abigail Fisher applied to the University of Texas in the year of 2008, was denied admission due to affirmative action. While Abigails academic qualifications were superior the university decided to admit a few minority students with less credentials compared to her (Ferrara 2). She is now holding a lawsuit against the university for choosing their applicants based on race rather than academic excellence under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (Ferrara 5). Now the question holds, are individual rights being discriminated or should minorities have the upperhand? In discussions of individual and group rights, one controversial issue has been which of the two is more important or in other words politically correct. On the one hand people for individual rights might argue, racial preferences for admission[s] are unconstitutional (Ferrara 8). On the other hand, people for group rights contend, racial diversity on college campuses [have] positive educational outcomes (Chang 1). However, my own view is that minorities should have the majority rule when it comes to acceptance in universities. Although there are some faults to this dispute, nevertheless I believe that there are more positive effects with affirmative action than negative because it give an extra push towards academics, a chance to educate others about different diversities, and to give minorities a boost to become successful in there futures. I know, from personal experiences, that if an individual wants to do well and is tested

Leon 2 with their abilities then they will do anything to reach their goals and become successful. Peter Ferrara, an American lawyer, policy analyst, and columnist who is the current general counsel for the American Civil Rights Union and analyst for The Heartland Institute, believes that [minorities] perform less well, or drop out than [being] admitted to schoolsmatched to their capabilities and yet they are mistaken (Ferrara 13). I was put in a position where I was apart of a competitive charter school and I had been extremely far behind when it came to my academics. I was not on the same level when compared to my peers. I did not want to fail not only my family, but also myself so I stepped up and took action to prevent my nightmare from becoming a reality. I was not only a student but a teacher as well, it drew me to areas of study and work [that I] may [have] never consider otherwise (Messerli 1). I taught myself great testing skills, note taking abilities, and study habits that I would not have learned if I wasnt confronted. I knew that I had become a better student and I successfully graduated high school. If a student does end up failing then members on the opposing side shouldnt blame minorities as a whole, they should just blame that one student who didnt put the time and effort into there studies. You would be surprised how hard people will work to become prosperous. Diversity doesnt just have to be about having a bunch of different nationalities and ethnicities together all in the same spot. It could also be religion, beliefs, and genders. In the book Persepolis, a girl named Marjane Satrapi is faced with challenges pretty much everyday of her life because she is living in a time of revolution. She used to be allowed to go to co-ed schools, but because of the Islamic Revolution she, along with the rest of the little girls, are forced to go to same gender schools. Due to this new law Marjane is deprived from learning how to communicate and respond to the opposite sex. This puts her at a disadvantage because according to Mitchell Chang, a professor of Higher Education and Organizational Change at University of California Los Angeles, [a] diverse campus is a powerful way to teach

Leon 3 students the realities[of the] world they will eventually be living and working in (Chang 3). Joe Meeserli, creator and author of Balancedpolitics.org, also states that many students live very segregated lives until the time they start college so thats why it is important to have such a diverse campus (Meeserli 3). Diversity helps create communication skills with different individuals and would help students excel in the real world. Communication is one of the biggest things a person needs in order to become successful. Also due to the fact she attends a school that doesnt share her common beliefs she becomes criticized. For example, when her teacher asks her, What do you want to be when you grow up? she responds saying, Ill be a prophet(Persepolis 8). Her teacher is disappointed with her response and contacts her parents letting them know what kind of foolish answer she gave in the class discussion. Its problematic for her to express herself when there is no one she could relate to at her school because everyone is forced to believe in one thing. There isnt an acquaintance to share ideas or even to converse with. Without diversity people beginning to feel trapped and alone when they dont have people who share mutual thoughts. Because she lives in a country where there is no diversity, stereotypes begin to form about different nationalities and ethnicities. For example, when Marjane suggests that she and her family should move to the United States her dad says, So that I can become a taxi driver and you a cleaning lady? (64). He creates this stereotype about Iranian-Americans saying that if him and his family were to move to the United States that they would automatically have low class jobs because of their race. He believes the rumors that he sees and hears from the media or from his neighbors. He doesnt understand the freedom of choice here in the U.S to become whatever he wanted to become. If he were to come to America and become successful his stereotype against his own people would diminish. Some stereotypes may never be broken (Messerli 1). It can eliminate judgment towards a culture for people who have never approached a certain cultural group. That is the reason why it is so essential to have a mixed cultural society

Leon 4 so that way we stop creating these wrongful pigeonholes and put a stop to these wrongful accusations against people. Now even though, we as a nation have come a long way, racism still occurs. Peter Ferrara claims that, there is no racism anywhere in the United States (13). Fortunately for him, he maybe has never experienced a racial encounter. My African- American aunt, who happens to be a well-educated doctor, is still discriminated against by her own patients due to the color of her skin. Some say racial slurs to her, some dont make eye contact or speak to her, and some even refuse to have and skin contact with her. It seems no matter how well educated or hard working we minorities are we still dont have an equal chance for our careers or in even in life. I'm sure some of us can relate to being racial profiled just by having the opposite skin tone or distinctive facial feature. Affirmative action actually helps level out the playing field for minorities. Affirmative action is needed to compensate minorities for centuries of slavery and oppression and this is an excellent way of apologizing (Messerli 1). The past still, to this day, bothers many races and nationalities. History cant be undone but the school system can do something to make up for the past. Some counterarguments would be Students admitted on this basis are often ill-equipped to handle the schools to which they've been admitted. (Messerli 1). Frankly, this statement is not true and the opposing side shouldnt be making those assumptions. I, myself, proved that this proclamation is not true. Sure they might not be as prepared as other students but that does not mean that they cant be. All students need is that extra boost to become well equipped as their peers (Messerli 1). Give someone the opportunity to prove them selves before underestimating them and their abilities instead of making up conclusions. Another counterargument would be It is condescending to minorities to say they need affirmative action to succeed (Messerli 1). Although I see what kind of point he is trying

Leon 5 to make, however its not like we need affirmative action to become successful, affirmative action need us to bring diversity to the campuses. Were, in a way, just getting the upper hand in our education because it is still a struggle for minorities to be treated the same in the real world. It gives us a fair shot because we know we cant get it anywhere else. Plus learning because more fun and easier, if you have a diverse group teaching and learning from each other everything just sinks in as a opposed to the same individuals as yourself. Affirmative action gives not just minorities, but so many other people equal opportunities shine in their futures. It helps all different kinds of people come together and learn from one another and to share common values. Views and discussions can come across from many distinctive perspectives. Not only will we learn from each other but we will also unite as one because of the bonds we share towards one another. Nevertheless, I believe that both sides really do benefit from affirmative action because to pushes for excellence, brings people together, and apologizes for wrongful doing in the past.

Leon 6 Work Cited Chang, Mitchell J. The Positive Educational Effects of Racial Diversity on Campus. Diversity Challenged: Evidence on the Impact of Affirmative Action. Ed. Gary Orfield. Cambridge: Harvard Education Publishing Group, 2001. 175-186. Sage. Web. 29 November 2013. Ferrara, Peter J. Amicus Brief, American Civil Right Union in Support of Petitioner (U.S. Supreme Ct. Docs 2012). TarltonGuides. Tarlton Law Library, U of Tex. School of Law, 29 May 2012. Web. 29 November 2013. Fisher v. Univ. of Tex. at Austin, Complaint 645 F. Supp. 2d 587 (W.D. Tex. Docs. 2009). TarltonGuides. Tarlton Law Library, U of Tex. School of Law, 7 Apr. 2008. Web. 29 November 2013. Messerli, Joe. Should Affirmative Action Policies, which give Preferential Treatment based on Minority Status, be Eliminated? BalancedPolitics.org. n.p. 7 Jan. 2012. Web. 29 November 2013. Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York, NY: Pantheon, 2003. Print.