How Asian Americans Became The Center Of The Affirmative Action Debate

CNBC Make It
21 May 202209:41
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video script explores the high-stakes world of Ivy League admissions, focusing on the stress and disappointment of 'Ivy Day' for many students. It delves into the controversial topic of affirmative action, highlighting the debate around its impact on Asian American applicants. The script features Michael Wang, who filed a complaint against three top US universities, questioning the role of race in admissions. It also discusses the potential implications of upcoming Supreme Court cases on race-based admissions practices, suggesting that the elimination of affirmative action might not necessarily benefit Asian Americans as expected.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Ivy Day is a significant event for students as they receive their admissions decisions from Ivy League universities.
  • 😟 The experience of Ivy Day can be stressful and disappointing for many students who face rejections from their top choices.
  • 🏛️ Michael Wang, an Asian American student, filed a complaint against three top US universities regarding affirmative action policies.
  • 🤔 The fear of not attending an Ivy League can lead to concerns about how one's educational background will be perceived in the job market.
  • 🔍 Affirmative action policies aim to integrate historically excluded populations and have been a contentious topic since the 1970s.
  • 📉 Despite being implemented to promote diversity, affirmative action has faced legal challenges and reforms over the years.
  • 📈 Some studies suggest that white women have benefited the most from affirmative action policies.
  • 🤝 Michael Wang's father and other leaders in the Asian American community formed the Asian American Coalition for Education to address concerns about admissions practices.
  • 📖 The Supreme Court is set to review two lawsuits that could potentially end race-based admissions practices in higher education.
  • 🧐 There is a concern among some Asian American students that their race might be used against them in the admissions process.
  • 🏆 Harvard defends its use of personality ratings in admissions as a race-neutral approach, denying any discrimination.
Q & A

  • What is Ivy Day and why is it significant for students?

    -Ivy Day is the day when Ivy League universities announce their admissions decisions. It's significant for students as it can determine their future educational path and is often associated with high levels of stress and anticipation.

  • How does Michael Wang feel about being waitlisted for Columbia?

    -Michael Wang expresses that being waitlisted for Columbia is pretty good, indicating that despite not being accepted outright, he sees it as a positive outcome.

  • What is the general acceptance rate for Ivy League schools?

    -The acceptance rate for Ivy League schools is notoriously low, ranging from 4% to 10% annually.

  • What is affirmative action and why was it implemented?

    -Affirmative action is a policy implemented after the 1964 Civil Rights Act to integrate populations that had been historically excluded. It aims to create educational and employment opportunities for marginalized ethnic communities.

  • What was the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action in university admissions?

    -The Supreme Court ruled that race can be considered as one of many factors in admissions, but it cannot be used as a quota system. Affirmative action can be used as a tiebreaker when all other factors are equal.

  • Why did Michael Wang file a complaint against three top universities in the US regarding affirmative action?

    -Michael Wang filed a complaint because he believed his race may have been used against his application and he sought clarity on how race was considered in the admissions process.

  • What is the Asian American Coalition for Education and what is its purpose?

    -The Asian American Coalition for Education is a group formed by Michael Wang's father and other leaders in the Asian-American community. Its purpose is to address concerns about potential racial discrimination in university admissions.

  • What are the two lawsuits that the Supreme Court will review in October 2022 regarding affirmative action?

    -The Supreme Court will review two lawsuits against Harvard and UNC that challenge the use of race in university admissions, with the potential to end race-based admissions practices altogether.

  • What is the Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) and what is their stance on affirmative action?

    -The Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) is a nonprofit organization representing anonymous students in lawsuits against Harvard and UNC. They claim that affirmative action illegally uses race against Asian-American applicants in admissions.

  • How does Harvard respond to allegations of discrimination in its admissions process?

    -Harvard denies discrimination in its admissions process and defends its use of personality ratings as a methodically sound and race-neutral approach, stating there is no evidence of statistical or other discrimination.

  • What are the potential implications for Asian-American applicants if affirmative action is deemed unconstitutional?

    -Some experts believe that eliminating race-conscious admissions might not necessarily increase the chances of Asian-American applicants, as more universities could eliminate standardized testing, which is an area where Asian-Americans traditionally excel.

Outlines
00:00
🏫 Ivy League Admissions Anxiety and Affirmative Action

The first paragraph introduces the high-stakes environment of Ivy League admissions, highlighting the emotional turmoil students face on Ivy Day as they await their fate. It discusses the selectivity of these institutions and the fear of not being recognized by employers if they do not attend a prestigious school. The narrative focuses on Michael Wang, who was waitlisted at Columbia and rejected by other Ivy League schools, leading him to file a complaint against three top universities regarding their affirmative action policies. The paragraph delves into the history of affirmative action, its purpose, and the ongoing debate surrounding its fairness, especially for Asian American students who feel they may be disadvantaged by these policies.

05:04
📚 The Battle Over Affirmative Action in College Admissions

The second paragraph continues the discussion on affirmative action, focusing on the legal challenges it faces. It mentions the upcoming Supreme Court review of two lawsuits against Harvard and UNC, which could potentially end race-based admissions practices. The paragraph emphasizes the Asian American community's significant involvement in these legal battles, with the nonprofit Students for Fair Admissions representing anonymous students who claim to be negatively impacted by affirmative action. The narrative also explores the potential consequences of eliminating affirmative action, suggesting it may not necessarily benefit Asian Americans and could instead disadvantage them due to changes in admissions criteria. The paragraph concludes with perspectives from various stakeholders, including the potential impact on underrepresented student populations and the broader implications for equity in education.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Ivy Day
Ivy Day is a term used to describe the day when the eight Ivy League schools release their admissions decisions. It is a significant event for students who have applied to these prestigious institutions. In the video, Ivy Day is portrayed as a day of high anticipation and emotional extremes, with some students experiencing elation at their acceptance and others disappointment at rejection or being waitlisted.
💡Waitlisted
Being 'waitlisted' means that a student has not been immediately accepted or rejected by a university, but rather placed on a list to be considered for admission should spaces become available. In the script, the term is used to describe the status of a student who was waitlisted for Columbia University, which is a moment of mixed feelings as it is not a rejection but also not a guarantee of admission.
💡Affirmative Action
Affirmative action refers to policies and practices that aim to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups in education, employment, and other areas. It is a contentious topic, especially in the context of university admissions. The video discusses affirmative action in relation to how it has been used since the 1960s to promote diversity in student bodies, but also how it has been criticized and challenged in court by some Asian American students who feel it may work against them.
💡Race Conscious Admissions
Race conscious admissions is a term that describes the practice of considering race as one of the factors in the university admissions process. The script mentions that this practice has been in place to integrate historically excluded populations and has been a subject of legal battles, with some arguing it creates an unfair advantage or disadvantage for certain racial groups.
💡Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court ruling mentioned in the script refers to the high court's decisions on cases involving affirmative action in university admissions. These rulings have shaped how institutions can legally consider race as a factor in admissions, stating that it can be one of many factors but not used as a quota system. The script implies that these rulings are significant in the ongoing debate about the fairness of race-conscious admissions.
💡Asian American
Asian American is a term used to describe Americans with ancestry from Asia. In the context of the video, it highlights the experiences and perspectives of Asian American students in the admissions process, particularly their concerns about how affirmative action may impact their chances of being admitted to Ivy League schools. The script discusses the complexities and internal debates within the Asian American community regarding affirmative action.
💡Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA)
Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) is a nonprofit organization representing students in legal cases against universities over their admissions practices. The script mentions SFFA as the group behind the lawsuits against Harvard and UNC, arguing that affirmative action unfairly uses race against Asian American applicants in admissions.
💡Personality Ratings
Personality ratings are subjective assessments of an applicant's character traits, such as likability, courage, and leadership capabilities. The script discusses how Harvard uses these ratings in its admissions process and how critics argue that they may be used in a discriminatory manner against Asian American applicants.
💡Socioeconomic Status (SES)
Socioeconomic status refers to an individual's or group's economic and social position within a society, often determined by factors like income, education, and occupation. The video suggests that SES could be a more appropriate factor to consider in admissions to level the playing field for underrepresented students, rather than race alone.
💡Standardized Testing
Standardized testing refers to exams like the SAT, which are used by universities as part of the admissions process to assess academic ability. The script notes that Asian American students often score highly on these tests, and there is concern that eliminating race-conscious admissions could lead to the removal of such tests, potentially disadvantaging these students.
💡Diversity
Diversity in the context of the video refers to the range of different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives represented within a university's student body. Proponents of affirmative action argue that it is necessary to promote diversity and counteract historical discrimination. The script explores the debate around what constitutes diversity and how it should be achieved in university admissions.
Highlights

The fear and stress of waiting for Ivy League admissions decisions on Ivy Day.

Ivy Day can be a day of overwhelming disappointment for many students.

Michael Wang's personal experience of being waitlisted for Columbia and rejected from other top universities.

Concerns about how attending a non-Ivy League school may impact future job prospects.

Ivy Leagues' hyper selectivity and low acceptance rates of 4-10% annually.

History of allegations of unfair admissions practices and affirmative action policies since the 1970s.

Affirmative action's role in creating education and employment opportunities for marginalized ethnic communities.

Studies showing that white women benefited the most from affirmative action in the early 1990s.

Controversy over whether affirmative action should be used as a tiebreaker in admissions.

Asian American students' concerns about potential discrimination in the admissions process.

Michael's decision to attend Williams College instead of an Ivy League school.

Michael's formal complaint to the Department of Education about race in admissions.

Yale's statement defending its race-conscious admissions practices.

The formation of the Asian American Coalition for Education and their joint complaint against Harvard.

Upcoming Supreme Court review of lawsuits against Harvard and UNC that could end race-based admissions.

Students for Fair Admissions' claim that affirmative action illegally uses race against Asian Americans.

Harvard's defense against allegations of discrimination in its admissions process.

Potential impacts on Asian American applicants if affirmative action is deemed unconstitutional.

Arguments that eliminating race-based affirmative action could hurt Asian Americans in college admissions.

The role of socioeconomic status in leveling the playing field for underrepresented student populations.

Michael's pursuit of a legal career to help future students facing discrimination in admissions.

Transcripts

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Ivy LeagueAdmissionsAffirmative ActionRace DebateEducation ReformDiversityCollege AdmissionAsian AmericanSupreme CourtStudent StruggleSocial Justice