The Current Harvard Crimson has a report on the new short essay prompts Harvard will give applicants. The very first of these prompts reads as follows:
"1. Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?"
This a not very subtle invitation to do exactly what Jay Caspian Kang is talking about here. It is done in a completely deceitful way in this question, which does not ask about trauma per se, but telegraphs it with its reference to a "diverse student body/" A not very subtle invitation to go in the direction of harm endured. It seems clear to me that Harvard has every intention of pushing Chief Justice Robert's comments about such essays to the limit. And since Roberts himself reined in what he meant about that, Harvard will be courting a lot more court attention yet.
As with so many US products, the idea of victimhood as a form of social capital has taken hold here in Australia too.
It’s a tough one, because it’s obviously arisen in response to a (now old-fashioned, and perhaps flawed) idea that people should maintain a ‘stiff upper lip’ in response to hardship. That is, they shouldn’t talk about it, they should process it, and get on with their lives. While this approach probably works for many, for others it doesn’t.
That said, we now have a situation in both our countries where, notwithstanding genuine cases of ‘trauma’, many (often middle class) people cynically use claims of hardship as a way of gaining status and prestige.
I think about whether there’s a middle ground and I’m not sure there is. For example, if we were to consider ‘trauma’ or ‘hardship’ as part of a suite of other considerations in (say) an admissions process, we inevitably end up with situations in which people ‘miss out’ despite their ‘trauma’, which to many, would be to essentially disregard it.
Ultimately, the problem I think is the idea of ‘equity’, which is at the heart of the matter. I’m totally on board with something like ‘equality of opportunity’, but the more I think about it, the more I realise that the pursuit of equity is doomed and dangerous.
So now the plan is to award entry to the best sob stories? Creative writing, or plagiarism, awards. Just great; the student starts academic life as a liar. I wonder how that story ends.
Black folks still living in your head rent-free, You didn't mention the 6 white Mississippi officers just pleading guilty to entering a home without a warrant and assaulting two black men after someone called the police and related they had white women in the house. The victims endured physical, sexual, and emotional torture for 2 to 3 hours at the hands of the perpetrators. They shot one victim in the mouth, but he survived after being hospitalized. Jim Crow's behavior is still alive and well.
BTW, I have a 2nd cousin who received his bachelor's degree at Morehouse College (an HBCU). He then received an MBA from Harvard and his law degree from Yale. He's now a successful lawyer and CEO of a chain of restaurants. His brother is a successful dentist.
Their dad is the Chancellor at North Carolina A&T College, the largest HBCU. A&T receives several research grants and graduates half of the black engineers in the country. UNC accounting graduates go to A&T to get assistance in passing the state board exam for CPA.
My cousin the chancellor expects an increase in college applications. He's started a drive for more scholarship money. The college does have white and Asian students. His wife is a successful retired city attorney and is involved in the community.
Meantime, you're just an old broke, jealous, and angry white man. Lol!!!!
His son is being engaged to a Chinese woman? I bet that sent funny warm feelings up and down your spine. If she was Indian, it would be the threat of an honor killing by her father and brother(s). Lol!!!!
There is a social psychology here that, to my knowledge, hasn’t been developed as much as it should. We’re talking about a moral masquerade where the challenge is to pretend to a status that you don’t have. What are its consequences, but also what are its sources, that is the question. Shelby Steele first wrestled with these issues over 30 years ago, and it was made clear in progressive circles that considering these questions invited the most severe ostracism!
Oppression that is required to be rehearsed is hard on the psyche and WILL (not could) do more damage than any elite degree could ever benefit someone.
So this is where the smartest people in the country teach and write and where the most talented students in the country go to university, maybe not?
The Current Harvard Crimson has a report on the new short essay prompts Harvard will give applicants. The very first of these prompts reads as follows:
"1. Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?"
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/8/3/harvard-admission-essay-change/
This a not very subtle invitation to do exactly what Jay Caspian Kang is talking about here. It is done in a completely deceitful way in this question, which does not ask about trauma per se, but telegraphs it with its reference to a "diverse student body/" A not very subtle invitation to go in the direction of harm endured. It seems clear to me that Harvard has every intention of pushing Chief Justice Robert's comments about such essays to the limit. And since Roberts himself reined in what he meant about that, Harvard will be courting a lot more court attention yet.
As with so many US products, the idea of victimhood as a form of social capital has taken hold here in Australia too.
It’s a tough one, because it’s obviously arisen in response to a (now old-fashioned, and perhaps flawed) idea that people should maintain a ‘stiff upper lip’ in response to hardship. That is, they shouldn’t talk about it, they should process it, and get on with their lives. While this approach probably works for many, for others it doesn’t.
That said, we now have a situation in both our countries where, notwithstanding genuine cases of ‘trauma’, many (often middle class) people cynically use claims of hardship as a way of gaining status and prestige.
I think about whether there’s a middle ground and I’m not sure there is. For example, if we were to consider ‘trauma’ or ‘hardship’ as part of a suite of other considerations in (say) an admissions process, we inevitably end up with situations in which people ‘miss out’ despite their ‘trauma’, which to many, would be to essentially disregard it.
Ultimately, the problem I think is the idea of ‘equity’, which is at the heart of the matter. I’m totally on board with something like ‘equality of opportunity’, but the more I think about it, the more I realise that the pursuit of equity is doomed and dangerous.
So now the plan is to award entry to the best sob stories? Creative writing, or plagiarism, awards. Just great; the student starts academic life as a liar. I wonder how that story ends.
Black folks still living in your head rent-free, You didn't mention the 6 white Mississippi officers just pleading guilty to entering a home without a warrant and assaulting two black men after someone called the police and related they had white women in the house. The victims endured physical, sexual, and emotional torture for 2 to 3 hours at the hands of the perpetrators. They shot one victim in the mouth, but he survived after being hospitalized. Jim Crow's behavior is still alive and well.
BTW, I have a 2nd cousin who received his bachelor's degree at Morehouse College (an HBCU). He then received an MBA from Harvard and his law degree from Yale. He's now a successful lawyer and CEO of a chain of restaurants. His brother is a successful dentist.
Their dad is the Chancellor at North Carolina A&T College, the largest HBCU. A&T receives several research grants and graduates half of the black engineers in the country. UNC accounting graduates go to A&T to get assistance in passing the state board exam for CPA.
My cousin the chancellor expects an increase in college applications. He's started a drive for more scholarship money. The college does have white and Asian students. His wife is a successful retired city attorney and is involved in the community.
Meantime, you're just an old broke, jealous, and angry white man. Lol!!!!
Love it when Glenn gives us these conversations with a twist.
His son is being engaged to a Chinese woman? I bet that sent funny warm feelings up and down your spine. If she was Indian, it would be the threat of an honor killing by her father and brother(s). Lol!!!!
There is a social psychology here that, to my knowledge, hasn’t been developed as much as it should. We’re talking about a moral masquerade where the challenge is to pretend to a status that you don’t have. What are its consequences, but also what are its sources, that is the question. Shelby Steele first wrestled with these issues over 30 years ago, and it was made clear in progressive circles that considering these questions invited the most severe ostracism!
Oppression that is required to be rehearsed is hard on the psyche and WILL (not could) do more damage than any elite degree could ever benefit someone.
Victim mentality is not a good idea.