To the Editor:
Last week, a Washington-based Conservative group ran a full page ad in The Dartmouth claiming a number of schools are in violation of affirmative action laws. While the ad did seem a bit out of place and did not explain the accusations, I have to say it is 100 percent correct. In the Jan. 28 edition of the Dartmouth, a student commented that "priority should be given to minority students." That statement is unquestionably unlawful. Giving priorities to minorities is giving privileges based on race ... that is illegal and one cannot deny that fact. Any school or institution that practices any type of affirmative action policy is in violation of the law.
Affirmative action, in my opinion, is so unbelievably disrespectful to minorities. Think about it, the government or institution gives minorities extra privileges ... why? Do they think minorities aren't able to produce the same achievements as non-minorities? That is sure what it seems like they are implying. And that is an absolute load of horse manure. Minorities are capable of doing exactly the same thing as non-minorities ... race is not a factor.
Now I am not a minority, but I have felt something similar to affirmative action. I am a legacy ... I am a double legacy. Both my parents graduated Dartmouth. In high school I worked extremely hard at school and extracurricular activities and when I received my acceptance letter from Dartmouth, I was overjoyed. All my hard work had paid off. My joy diminished, however, when almost everyone I told said, "What did you think? Both your parents went there, did you actually think you weren't going to get in?" I could not believe it. I spent four years working my behind off and everyone ignores this fact and says it's because of my parents? I continued to get these comments when I came to Dartmouth. "Your parents are both alumni? Oh, I see," with a smug look on a face. My hard work and accomplishments are frequently over-looked because of something that's beyond my control. Affirmative action denies respect to the minorities and legacies who deserve admission. I hope more people will
realize this and understand that race should not play a role ... in anything.