[IMC-Editorial] Letter: Univ. of Michigan Hides Its Racist Admission Policies

[Edwin A. Locke, Ayn Rand Institute]

Dear Editor:

Welcome to the brave new world of college admissions. The Supreme Court ruled in the 
Michigan case that raced-based policies are constitutional as long as universities are 
not too obvious about it. The University of Michigan has announced that it has changed 
its procedures accordingly and these will no doubt be used as a model by other 
universities. Now instead of using race explicitly by assigning a certain number of 
bonus points for applicants of the right race, Michigan will use race implicitly--which 
means they can do whatever they feel like doing provided they do not say they are doing 
it! Instead of being above board and in the open, racism will now be hidden under the 
table.

Consider the irony of this. For decades leftists and so-called anti-racists have 
supported affirmative programs (quotas) on the grounds that in theory treating people as 
individuals may be ideal but that hidden or subconscious prejudices would undermine any 
such attempt. Now, with the left's strong approval, the Supreme Court has told 
universities that subconscious prejudice is both legal and desirable--if the result is 
to favor minority groups. But racism is still racism regardless of whether it is done 
consciously or subconsciously and regardless of which group benefits. The real solution 
is not to hide racism but to abolish and replace it with the principle of color-blind, 
race-blind individualism--the principle on which America was founded.

Sincerely,

Edwin A. Locke
Ayn Rand Institute

2121 Alton Parkway, #250
Irvine, CA  92606
United States
(818) 706-9361

Please let me know if you decide to publish my letter. Thank you.

If you would like to stop receiving letters from the Ayn Rand
Institute, please reply to this e-mail to let us know.