Legacy Admissions and Affirmative Action

I had my class talking about affirmative action in college admissions today. When I solicited class discussion on the issue, the first student made a reasonably intelligent statement in opposition to affirmative action (though I disagreed). He said that merit, and only merit, should determine college admissions. I was prepared for this and I gently asked him if he knew that the University of Michigan's admission system--which was the subject of a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year--also assigned extra points to legacy applicants (Mommy or Daddy went to the university) in the same way that minorities were given extra points on the application. He replied that this was "not the same thing" and that legacy admissions could be useful because of "family traditions". Then some girl in the front of the class said "You can't say that merit is all that matters and then say what you just said. You just contradicted yourself". He was really floored, and I was thrilled. He got shot down, and I, the instructor stayed above the fray.

It is not a perfect system, but it is a lot more effective that having nothing in place at all.

affirmitive action when benefitting rich white students is no prob but try help the less fortunate...NO WAY!!!
hypocrites! (which is the ONE THING that Jesus hated in the bible!)

I thought you were an egalitarian society. Here if the UK, the only people who get 'legacy admissions' are those whose first name is 'Prince'.

You're telling me familial preferences simply don't happen in English Universities?

I wonder...