Rethinking Diversity

About a month ago, we at The Dartmouth Review posted an article on the divisive and iniquitous nature of affirmative action (see Affirmative Action Promotes Inequality). In it, we argued that affirmative action is and will always be a failed doctrine for one simple reason; it is simply an immense self-contradiction. By institutionalizing inequality in academia, the workforce, and society at large, liberals have birthed a system that enables the government to assign privilege to certain groups based on race and race alone. Inherent in this designation is a dichotomy that perpetuates racial self-consciousness and tension by elevating the interests of some over those of others. As result, we concluded that instead of promoting equality, affirmative action actually begets a “heighened sense of race consciousness” that prohibits progress and undermines the program’s original intent.

Apparently, no one at The Dartmouth bothers to check our website, for earlier week Kevin Francfort wrote an article much to the same effect. Entitled “Rethinking Diversity,” it makes a strong case for the need to drop considerations of race within admissions, arguing instead that diversity of opinion is much more important than diversity of skin color. No surprise there, but where the piece was most insightful was in its accompanying comments page. There, a Hannah Giorgis wrote: 

” Ahh… finally an opinion on diversity from someone who knows it best: an affluent straight white dude. This is why I trust no other source than The D for its continually groundbreaking, earth-shattering hardline reporting. Thank you for taking the time to actually research affirmative action policies as they pertain to colleges. Thank you for taking the time to consider what people of color — especially economically disadvantaged people of color — do not have the same opportunities that their white counterparts do. Thank you for shattering the stereotypes about students of color that already permeate every aspect of our lives at Dartmouth. Thank you for not reinforcing a fallacious viewpoint that positions us as inferior. Thank you for not adding fuel to the ‘you don’t deserve to be here’ fire that we’re forced to confront every single day at Dartmouth.” 

No, Hannah, thank you. You proved our point much more effectively than we ever could. 

— Nicholas P. Desatnick