Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

AT ISSUE: Need should determine who gets financial aid

Jessica Peck Corry

Published September 8, 2008 at 6:19 p.m.

Text size  

More Letters to the Editor

More stories »

In a Sept. 5 Rocky Mountain News article concerning the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative ("Amendment 46 on this November's ballot"), the reporter references the use of race in financial aid decisions at Metro State College and the University of Northern Colorado. While a quote in the article was attributed to me, I was never contacted in reference to this story. Instead, a quote was taken out of context from a conversation I had with the reporter two months ago.

Had I been contacted for the story, here is what I would have said: All university officials should support Amendment 46, which if passed this November, would prohibit our public colleges and universities from discriminating or offering preference to candidates based on race and sex.

The article suggests that Metro officials discriminate on the basis of such characteristics in the distribution of financial aid. If indeed Metro awards public money to students in a race-exclusive fashion, it is at risk of violating federal laws, including the 1964 Civil Rights Act and more recent court decisions.

From a practical perspective, at an institution like Metro, where one in four students has been identified as a racial minority, officials should realize that students can no longer fit easily into stagnant race boxes.

Advantage and disadvantage, as well as diversity, transcend our physical characteristics. Every Colorado higher education institution should administer financial aid and affirmative action programming based on economic need. They should do so not only to avoid potentially costly civil rights lawsuits, but also to ensure that no student - regardless of his or her skin pigment or sex - is unfairly excluded from achieving the dream of a college education.

Jessica Peck Corry is the executive director of the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative.

Comments

  • September 8, 2008

    11:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    sschow writes:

    "Advantage and disadvantage, as well as diversity, transcend our physical characteristics."

    And yet I guarantee that if a disproportionate number of white males received financial aid, somebody would be screaming bloody murder.

    For everyone who claims diversity and skin color are not related, there are many who look into a group of whites and see no diversity at all. Sad.

  • September 9, 2008

    8:11 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    conniesz writes:

    At many colleges across the nation white males are indeed given preference at the academic end of admissions. If they weren't there would not be enough men admitted to many elite small colleges - women have been out performing men in academics for many years now.

    I'm all in favour of race, religion, sexual orientation, and sex blindness for both admissions and financial aid - but first get rid of legacy admissions to really level the field.

  • September 9, 2008

    8:35 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Marshdale writes:

    I do believe people who have a distinct financial disadvantage should have some assistance. That being said, I often felt as if I was being punished for having a job. I barely made enough to survive in a tiny one bedroom in capitol hill, but it was to much income to recieve a grant of any kind I was told. So I got student loans which I am still paying on 10 years later. As a net contributor to society rather than a taker, it seems that there should be some rewards for that. Am I whinning. What's your opinion.

  • September 9, 2008

    11:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    mmannino writes:

    conniesz,

    Legacy admissions are not providing financial aid. Legacy issues are done to bring money into an institution. Institutions desperately need full paying customers. Legacy admissions are not unleveling the playing field. To the small extent of legacy admissions, everyone is eligible. I do not think that public institutions even use legacy admissions.