Being a university professor for 30+ years means I know a lot of experts in sociology, literature, history, and philosophy. Their exquisite work inspires. The most thoughtful of them, especially those who study the big intractable issues of our time, global inequality, racism, gender inequality, war, genocide, poverty, educational disparities, climate change do not indulge in the rhetoric of quick fixes. Sure, we can and do advocate for policy changes. Can we advocate and also be mindful of the limits of advocacy? Where else can we go?
Photo by Robin D’Oench
**These words were spoken by University of California then-President David Gardener circa 1986. He was speaking about the problem of university admissions generally, and specifically, complaints by Asian Americans that the UC system discriminated against them in the admissions process. In the late 1980s there were state and federal investigations of admissions at some of the top schools in the country, Harvard, UCLA, and Berkeley.
Renewed interest and legal cases at University of Michigan, and UT Austin went to the Supreme Court. Currently, there is a case being considered by the Court in which the plaintiffs argue that Asian Americans were treated unfairly in admissions at Harvard.