scale of 1600) to have an equal chance of admission to high-caliber universities. Derrick Pennell ’24 recognizes that being Asian places him at an academic disadvantage when applying for college. Consequently, he believes that affirmative action largely doesn’t have a place in a fair college admissions system. “It comes down to whether or not colleges should sacrifice their diversity in order to pick only the students who show the most potential, or whether they keep their diversity, but potentially exclude a bright student,” Pennell said. “[Removing affirmative action], technically speaking, would provide an equal chance for all races because race wouldn’t be even considered.” Kangni believes the higher standard placed on Asian applicants isn’t a fault of affirmative action, but instead of the Model Minority Myth, which is the stereotype that Asians achieve more than other minorities due to inherent talent and strong work ethic. Kangni believes the execution of affirmative action should be improved by not believing harmful stereotypes. “There’s not one way to be Asian and one way to be Black. Having this unrealistic expectation that all Asian people are smart or academically gifted is not good,” Kangni said. “It’s the stereotypes that play into using affirmative action as a way to push agendas that are discriminatory.” Pennell agrees that there is a generalization of academic excellence targeted at Asians. “There’s the stereotype of Asians being smart,” Pennell said. “[Affirmative action] is at the detriment of Asian and white students … not all Asians rise to that same expectation.” With a 6-3 conservative Supreme Court major-
ity likely to release a decision this summer, affirmative action’s end seems imminent. How to ban race from college admissions then becomes tricky. For example, students may no longer be
AFFI R MATIVE ACTION I S M EANT TO G IVE PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE THOSE DI SADVANTAG ES A CHANCE … A LEG U P TO BE I NG PUT DOWN FOR SO MANY YEARS. - PRECI LIA KANGN I ’24 able to discuss their experiences with race in college essays. Kangni views the personal essay as a crucial aspect of any student’s application, and she currently plans on writing about her identity as a
Black person. If race can no longer be disclosed, Kangni feels as though she wouldn’t be able to express her full, authentic self in her essays. “[In my essay], I would talk about struggles and just living as a Black person, but that doesn’t mean everything is a struggle,” Kangni said. “I can’t be raised as who I am and then talk about who I am as a character and not bring up race.” Although students are allowed to reflect on their race in college applications, Asian students are sometimes discouraged from doing so. A New York Times investigative piece documented a common phenomenon where Black and Hispanic students are encouraged to emphasize their race in applications, but Asian students are advised to stray away from activities or narratives perceived as classically Asian. “I find it a bit sad [that] Asians have to hide part of their identity because it’s seen so much, while other races get to showcase their heritage because it gives them an advantage,” Pennell said. If affirmative action is repealed or its influence limited, Black and Hispanic students will face another barrier in their pursuit of higher education, and college campuses will lose diversity. But if race-conscious policies are affirmed, Asian students will continue to be disadvantaged, as they bear the burden of a higher standard of excellence. Pennell acknowledges the issue is complex and without an easy resolution. “Every solution we make to help one or more groups just seems to be at the detriment of another,” Pennell said. “No matter what the Supreme Court decides, this truly appears to be a no-win situation.” PHOTOS & DESIGN BY SACHIKO GOTO
A STICKY DEBATE
73%
>40%
The percentage of Americans who said in 2019 that colleges and universities should not consider race or ethnicity when making admissions decisions.
The percentage of American universities that consider the race of applicants at some point during their admissions process.
Source: Pew Research Center, Harvard University
NEWS JAN. 20, 2023
07