In 1964 when affirmative action was first put into place, it was intended to assist African Americans who had been fighting for civil rights. It helped African Americans receive equal employment opportunity.(Froomkin, Washington Post) At this time the policy was very much needed. Blacks had been freed from slavery over a hundred years

At the University of California 10,600 students were admitted to the college in 1991. Out of all these applicants 60% of the positions that were filled on an academic basis. Only 3% of these applicants were black, Hispanic, or American Indian. (C. Debbie) Students who had additional points added to their scores filled the next 35% of spaces. Blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians were given an extra 300 points on thier applications and instate students were given an extra 200 points on their applications.(C. Debbie) This is clearly unfair to other applicants, many students, typically white students, are judged on an unfair scale as other students. If two students were to apply with identical transcripts and test scores, but only one was admitted because of preferential programs and quotas then once again affirmative action has failed. Why should one student receive any preferential treatment over another because of his or her ethnic background? It is important that college campuses are diverse and that everyone is given a fair and equal chance when applying to college, this includes majority races. Affirmative action creates reverse discrimination when it helps some and leaves others "out in the cold." Colleges and universities should allow transcripts and entrance test scores to diversify campuses naturally.

Quotas and preference programs give certain individuals an unfair advantage in the application process. Affirmative action in the present day only weakens the civil right's movement. It may be true that thirty years ago it was necessary to help minorities get their foot in the door and prove that they were more than eligible employees, but this was thirty years ago. The policy in our current age is outdated. Affirmative action suppresses the individuals that it is intended to help and pushes out others. Linda Chavez, a Hispanic women who has served on the House Judiciary Committee and who was a lobbyist for the National Education Committee claims that she received man jobs because she was, as she claims, a "two fer": she was a women and also part of a minority race. She believes that now affirmative action allows minorities to wallow in their own self-pity rather than to improve their skill.(Chavez p.35) She states, "I now believe fervently that no one should be discriminated against because of his or her color or sex -

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1583
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)