Race, Guns, And Diversity

Here is another story about the decline of minority applications (at Ohio State) in the wake of the abandonment of racial bonus points.

Mabel Freeman, an admissions officer at Ohio State, explained that in lieu of the abandoned racial bonus points the “application instead contains four essay questions, designed to give officials a better idea of the cultural diversity each applicant might bring.” Students “with weaker academic backgrounds,” she explained, “often see complex applications as stumbling blocks.”

I don’t know which is sadder: if great numbers of minority applicants actually needed the racial bonus points to be admitted, or if they mistakenly thought they did.

Another thought occurs. Readers here are more than familiar with the criticism that “diversity” as practiced, is a pretextual synonym for “black,” that “diversity” programs, despite all the talk about “cultural diversity,” aren’t really interested in a real diversity of cultures, opinions, outlooks, etc.

In this regard, consider a comment from Sen. Kerry yesterday when he was attempting to reassure House Democrats from the South that he would not hurt them in their districts.

“I understand the culture of guns,” Kerry said, noting that he is a hunter and former prosecutor, according to a participant who took notes.

Now, put aside the fact that some Southerners may be offended that Kerry identifies the South with “the culture of guns” (much as Howard Dean did with Confederate decals on pickup trucks), and that others may think him an impostor for believing that his photo-op pheasant hunts proves he’s a communicant in the gun culture. If there is a “gun culture,” would not some of its products add to “diversity” on many campuses?