Prop 209 and “Culture Shift” – The Christian Science Monitor has an interesting article on how California is coping with the desire for diversity since Proposition 209 banned the consideration of race. (Link via Howard Bashman.)
The most encouraging thing in the article is a comment by someone who appears to be a critic of Prop. 209 who believes the new diversity-enhancing “comprehensive review” measures (extra points for overcoming adversity, demographic disadvantage, etc.) are a poor substitute for taking race into account.
Students at the Latino academic union on a recent day had never heard of comprehensive review. Lisa Walker, who went to Berkeley before the ban and now works here to foster cross-cultural interaction, feels that ban on affirmative action remains more potent than any admissions change.
“People don’t talk about race anymore,” says Ms. Walker. “The changes in numbers haven’t changed the culture shift that happened after 209.”
I hope she’s right.
