'Conservative Voice' Column Upsets Billman

Author: Hilary Billman

Amber Hillman's column on affirmative action conveys a profound lack of knowledge on the part of its writer. The article, based solely on personal prejudices and opinions, fails to truly address Middlebury's affirmative action policies ("Conservative Voice," The Middlebury Campus, Feb.26, 2003).
Hillman states that Middlebury's goal to create a "racially diverse classroom" is accomplished by admitting less qualified students of color ("minorities" is no longer appropriate as minorities are now the majority) over "a highly qualified majority applicant." This statement is fraught with problems for many reasons.
If Hillman had done any research on the history of affirmative action before writing her article she would have learned that the affirmative action of today is not the original version of affirmative action.
The goal of the original affirmative action, and the one championed by Middlebury and other colleges, aimed to admit only equally qualified students of color in an attempt to create a diverse student body. When other institutions began accepting less qualified students of color over others with higher qualifications, affirmative action developed the reputation held today.
Hillman also seems to have a lack of faith in Middlebury as she states that with the body of unqualified students struggling, "Middlebury must lower its educational standards." If she had actually spoken to any person of color on this campus she would learn that their educational talents rival those of any on this campus.
Another aspect Hillman fails to acknowledge is the fact that affirmative action practices in the newer sense stretch beyond race to gender and geographic locale. If she were truly an advocate of admission based on the desire to create "a college focused on furthering educational excellence," then perhaps she should also consider Middlebury's very frequently employed practice of admission based on legacy.
Surely, there is no guarantee that a student's or graduate's relatives will be just as smart as they. Under Hillman's dream, the "variety of backgrounds" would consist of a homogeneous, elite few. This is in no way in the college's best academic or social interests.

Hilary Billman is a
history major from New York City.