Affirmative Action Continuation

         Whether we like it or not, affirmative action remains a temporary solution to reconcile America's inequalities.  Affirmative action extends past racial inequality and affects gender equality in higher education.  At Swarthmore College, 3081 female students applied for a spot in the class of 2012.   Swarthmore only accepted 471 female applicants (15.28% accepted).  In addition, Swarthmore accepted 459 male applicants out of a pool of 2161 (21.2% accepted).  Admission at Swarthmore represent a trend at liberal arts college with disproportionate rate of female applicants to male applicants.  I doubt Swarthmore accepted inferior male applicants solely in pursuit of a balanced freshman class.  A gender disproportion at Swarthmore would likely dissuade future applicants in search of a balanced, co-ed institution.

The sheer quantity of male applicants at Massachusetts Institute of Technology outweigh their female peers.  Dominated by men with an aptitude for math and science, the technology industry represents one sector historically underrepresented by women.  Admissions data at MIT reflects this claim.  MIT only accepted 813 male applicants out of 8919 (9.11% accepted).  3526 female applicants vied for a spot in the class of 2012.  MIT accepted 740 of them (20.9% accepted).  Because of MIT's devotion to diversity, the class of 2012's gender ratio is 53:47.

Colleges should stray from limiting affirmative action to solely race.  Low income and first generation students (whose parents did not go to college) should also be courted in the admissions process.  Based on the U.S Census Bureau's  2007 poverty status supplement, approximately 12% of African-Americans hold a 4 year college degree or higher.  20% of Caucasians hold a 4 year college degree or higher, yet only 10.5% of Caucasians live below the poverty line.  24.5% of African-Americans fall below the poverty line.  The top 5% of African-American families ($198,165) make $97,769 less than the top 5% of Caucasian families. ($295,934).  I am not advocating for a 20 point boost for minority applicants, but do feel that institutions of higher education should reflect on their mission.  Educating the most deserving student should be a top priority, but colleges should also work to diminish social inequality by educating a diverse student body.