New York Governor Cuomo just issued a directive to state and city university systems that they continue to use race as a factor in their admission policies in order to better ensure diversity. The letter is another attempt by Cuomo to grandstand against President Trump.  The president’s effort to make the college admissions process race-neutral (see below) is the right thing to do because it make the playing field all about the merits of the applicant and NOT about race. The letter is full of hypocritical statements that lack common sense…

Cuomo mentions that the use of race in the admissions policy gives minorities the “opportunity to succeed”…Isn’t this then taking away the ability of other college applicant’s opportunity to succeed?

FULL TEXT OF LETTER:

Dear Chairman McCall and Chairman Thompson,

The Trump administration’s move to rescind the guidelines on using race in college admissions is a blatant attempt to limit the participation of minorities in higher education. It is part of a troubling trend by the President and his administration to alienate minorities and build walls to diversity and equal participation in society.

As you know, this issue has been going through the courts since 1978 (Regents of the University of California V. Bakke), most recently with the 2016 decision in Fisher V. University of Texas. The courts have determined that diversity is a valuable and allowable part of higher education.

New York’s two university systems have long been bastions of diversity and engines of social mobility. SUNY is nearly 45% minority and CUNY is 76% minority. This diversity broadens understanding and breaks down barriers and stereotypes, and it ensures all New Yorkers have the opportunity to succeed.

In this state, we embrace diversity and we encourage it. I am directing you to continue your existing diversity and inclusion plans. The new federal action should have no bearing on admission policies and should not interfere with SUNY’s and CUNY’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive student body.

In addition, I am directing you to reexamine your existing plans to ensure these plans are furthering New York’s goals of diversity and inclusion. To that end, SUNY and CUNY should each prepare a report due by August 15, 2018 outlining how they will expand and increase diversity representation on our campuses. 

 The Trump administration wants to take this country backwards, but in New York we are moving forward. We will continue to work together to dismantle barriers to social and economic mobility and extend the promise of equal opportunity to all New Yorkers.

 Sincerely,

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

“ENSURES ALL NEW YORKERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED”…Except the white ones

Wouldn’t an inclusive student body be one where race is ignored and the best students are admitted? Isn’t it racist to use ANY race as an admissions policy? A group of Asian students have a case against Harvard for denying them admission because of their race. It’s one thing if a minority has better qualifications but is not admitted (LIKE THE HARVARD CASE) because of their race but another if they are admitted over someone else ONLY because  they are a minority. This is dumbing down our colleges in a big way…Make the playing field equal for ALL races and admit on the merits of the applicant!

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS RIGHT ON THIS!

President Trump announced he was rescinding an order by former President Barack Obama designed to promote more diversity in higher education and instead require colleges and universities to adopt more race-neutral admission policies.

The comment by Cuomo that struck us as the most hypocritical:
“The Trump administration’s move to rescind the guidelines on using race in college admissions is a blatant attempt to limit the participation of minorities in higher education,” Cuomo said. “It is part of a troubling trend by the President and his administration to alienate minorities and build walls to diversity and equal participation in society.”

A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD MEANS YOU JUDGE ON MERITS AND NOT RACE!