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10 | XXXDAY, MONTH XX, 2012
Affirming diversity According to Dean of In line with our previous Undergraduate Admissions opinion, we argue here that Christoph Guttentag, race it is equally—if not more— still matters—and should important to appreciate the matter—in the college admis- justifications for these prosions process. But with pro- grams as it is to understand ceedings for how they are Fisher v. Uniimplemented. editorial versity of Texas While a numunderway this month, the Su- ber of different rationales preme Court’s ruling may for- yield affirmative action of bid public universities from some sort, what the actual taking this stance. While the policy looks like in concrete ramifications of this decision terms depends heavily on the for Duke and other selective rationale used to justify it. private universities remain There are at least three uncertain, it is vital that we, as common justifications for afstakeholders in the University, firmative action policies: repreflect carefully on what these arations, structural inequalpolicies do for our school. ity and diversity. The first two When the Court first are similar in that they target agreed to hear the Fisher the “justice” or “fairness” of case, we wrote an editorial admission, but remain conin March broadly supporting ceptually distinct. Affirmaaffirmative action policies. tive action based on a repara-
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Multi-party politics would be a boon for the moderate majority in America. I’m doing my part to support that end ... every vote for [the Democrats or Republicans] just reinforces the stagnancy and distastefulness of their entrenchment. —“Andy” commenting on the column “The real American horror story.” See more at www.dukechronicle.com.
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YESHWANTH KANDIMALLA, Editor LAUREN CARROLL, Managing Editor JULIAN SPECTOR, News Editor ANDREW BEATON, Sports Editor CHRIS DALL, Photography Editor MAGGIE LAFALCE, Editorial Page Editor KATHERINE ZHANG, Editorial Board Chair PARKER KUIVILA, Managing Editor for Online JIM POSEN, Director of Online Operations CHRISSY BECK, General Manager KRISTIE KIM, University Editor TIFFANY LIEU, Local & National Editor ANDREW LUO, Health & Science Editor CAROLINE RODRIGUEZ, News Photography Editor PHOEBE LONG, Design Editor MICHAELA DWYER, Recess Editor SOPHIA DURAND, Recess Photography Editor SCOTT BRIGGS, Editorial Page Managing Editor MATTHEW CHASE, Towerview Editor ADDISON CORRIHER, Towerview Photography Editor NICOLE KYLE, Social Media Editor SAMANTHA BROOKS, Senior Editor REBECCA DICKENSON, Advertising Director MARY WEAVER, Operations Manager DAVID RICE, Director of External Relations
tions approach is equivalent to saying that certain groups have been wronged in the past, and therefore ought to be repaid today. The structural inequality scheme, on the other hand, targets currently disadvantaged groups, regardless of whether their handicaps are the product of historical oppression. We believe that, while these justifications have merit, they are not sufficient to warrant racebased affirmative action. But we agree with Guttentag and Duke generally that the diversity justification—which is at the core of Fisher’s precedent case, Grutter v. Bollinger—is sufficient for race-based affirmative action in college admissions. Diversity is at the heart of Duke: the wide
range of academic offerings, the broad set of student groups and initiatives and, most importantly, the distinct views that students, faculty and staff bring to the University through their varied backgrounds. Guttentag was very clear that Duke does not condone a “checkbox diversity” approach to admitting students. Nevertheless, Duke’s holistic admissions standards would, he believes, be adversely affected if the University were not permitted to take race into consideration. A person’s race is no less part of them than their gender, their nationality or their home state—all of which are taken into account during admissions, and all of which play an important role in the
formal and informal education Duke provides. While we fully support Duke’s admissions policies with respect to race, it remains to be seen how, and to what degree, the Fisher decision will affect Duke and other private universities. Guttentag indicated that, since Duke receives federal funding, it would likely have to comply with at least some of the new restrictions that may be implemented. This, in turn, depends crucially on the Court’s majority decision. Thus, while no one can predict how Duke will ultimately be affected, we support Guttentag’s belief that, if the Court rules in Fisher’s favor, Duke’s matriculating classes will be different—probably for the worse.
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MARGOT TUCHLER, University Editor JACK MERCOLA, Local & National Editor DANIELLE MUOIO, Health & Science Editor ELYSIA SU, Sports Photography Editor ELIZA STRONG, Design Editor HOLLY HILLIARD, Recess Managing Editor CHELSEA PIERONI, Online Photo Editor ASHLEY MOONEY, Sports Managing Editor SONIA HAVELE, Towerview Editor MELISSA YEO, Towerview Creative Director NICOLE KYLE, Special Projects Editor MAGGIE SPINI, Senior Editor MICHAEL SHAMMAS, Recruitment Chair BARBARA STARBUCK, Creative Director MEGAN MCGINITY, Digital Sales Manager
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y 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 18, I had accomplished tee ballot process instead? Or would you have been two things, which is two things more than I prevented from voting? normally take care of by that time on the avThe effort required to vote on campus is minierage day: I had acquired my tickets mal, thanks to the Durham County for the parents’ weekend basketball Board of Elections, Duke Univergame, and I had voted early in the sity and Gov. Perdue’s voter ID veto. 2012 election. Throughout the week, there’s an earThis was my third time voting. I’d ly voting site next to the on-campus already voted in a local election last Chick-fil-A; you could cast your ballot year after 18 years and four months between classes. The last day to vote of anticipating the right to vote, and early, vote on campus or register and that election changed the balance of jordan deloatch vote at the same time is Nov. 3—if power in the theoretically nonpartithe football team has upset Clemson, never just a game san school board of the 16th largest you’re too late. school system in the nation. I also I’ve been asked whether voting in voted in last May’s primary as part of the 39 percent this election is worth the effort, or whether either of North Carolinians who voted against Amendment candidate is worth voting for. For example, when One. Both of those elections were significant on ei- Gary Johnson came to Duke, he compared President ther the local or state level, but on Oct. 18, for the Obama and Mitt Romney to Coke and Pepsi. This first time in my life, I got to vote for the president of metaphor is flawed because Coke and Pepsi are acthe United States. tually different. I’d make a joke about how Duke has To me, just the fact that I get to vote is an honor Coke and UNC has Pepsi, but I’d be sending mixed and a privilege. I watched this summer as laws were messages as to whether red or blue is better—I’m a passed around the country to make it harder to vote. Coke fan, but my vote went blue. President Obama In an effort to fight the epidemic of in-person voter is the first president ever to endorse gay marriage; fraud, voter ID laws have been proposed by 37 states’ Governor Romney wants a federal constitutional legislatures. Pennsylvania—a battleground state like amendment to ban it. Up to 45 million more people North Carolina—and our neighbor, South Carolina, would be uninsured under a President Romney than have passed voter ID laws. A study by News21 found under President Obama. Access to contraception, 10—yes, 10—cases of in-person voter impersonation education and health care is at risk if Gov. Romney is among 2,068 alleged election-fraud cases since 2000. elected and given a Republican Congress (and that’s Though the study may have underestimated this a good reason to vote down the ballot as well). There count somewhat, it’s nowhere near the 537 votes that are also several Supreme Court justices who could proved to be the difference in Florida in 2000. Mean- retire in the next term. Keep in mind that decisions while, the more than 14,000 Duke undergraduate on issues like gay marriage are due at any point in and graduate students who might have had a barrier the next few years. in their way can significantly influence the election. And most importantly, the economy is recoverThis kind of law is aimed at you—and it would ing under President Obama. For a crash that drew have succeeded if it weren’t for Gov. Beverly Per- comparisons to the Great Depression, the fact that due’s veto of a 2011 voter ID proposal. Every student we’ve gotten as far as we have is a testament to the on this campus has photo identification, but a law success of President Obama’s economic policy. Unthat requires a government-issued ID would make employment was in the double digits; it’s fallen back your Duke card ineligible, and most Duke students down to 7.8 percent. When I got my ballot for my don’t have a reason to get separate N.C. identifica- third and most important election, the first thing I tion. Do you remember the e-mail the administra- did was proudly add my voice to all those calling for tion sent out that serves as your proof of residency President Obama to serve for four more years. to vote in Durham County? Without it, would you have had a plan to prove that you’re a student who Jordan DeLoatch is a Trinity sophomore. His column resides in North Carolina? Would you have to try to runs every other Tuesday. You can follow Jordan on Twitter go through your home state’s likely byzantine absen- @jstorm64.
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