Critical Mass of Minorities on Campus
The Case of Julian Abele<\/H1><\/center> <\/p>\nby Chett<\/A><\/I>
October\/November 2003<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nMass of what, exactly?<\/h4>\n
<\/center> Why is the mantra of “Critical Mass” so often repeated when defending affirmative action? Are we talking about grams of plutonium or college students? The only critical mass that should have any affect on students is the mass of brain cells (and sweat glands) needed to successfully matriculate.<\/p>\n
Take a university, or small college, or even a college within a university (like the “college of Architecture” at a big university). Now imagine there is exactly one<\/i> black student in the student body. Presumably this student is paying tuition to the university for a college education, so what does his skin color have to do with anything? More importantly, what does the skin color of his classmates<\/i> have to do with the quality of his education?<\/p>\n
Only if this student defined himself by the color of his skin would it matter that he was the only “representative of his race” in the school. Therefore, it would seem that this idea of needing<\/i> a “critical mass” of minority students would only have bearing on those students who define themselves<\/i> by race. All the other students (regardless of race) are just there to get an education and hopefully a diploma.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
October\/November 2003<\/b><\/h3>\n
Mass of what, exactly?<\/h4>\n
<\/center> Why is the mantra of “Critical Mass” so often repeated when defending affirmative action? Are we talking about grams of plutonium or college students? The only critical mass that should have any affect on students is the mass of brain cells (and sweat glands) needed to successfully matriculate.<\/p>\n
Take a university, or small college, or even a college within a university (like the “college of Architecture” at a big university). Now imagine there is exactly one<\/i> black student in the student body. Presumably this student is paying tuition to the university for a college education, so what does his skin color have to do with anything? More importantly, what does the skin color of his classmates<\/i> have to do with the quality of his education?<\/p>\n
Only if this student defined himself by the color of his skin would it matter that he was the only “representative of his race” in the school. Therefore, it would seem that this idea of needing<\/i> a “critical mass” of minority students would only have bearing on those students who define themselves<\/i> by race. All the other students (regardless of race) are just there to get an education and hopefully a diploma.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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