Why are Asian-Americans so successful in America?

Was on a faculty search committee a few years ago and, as per normal procedures, we met with a "diversity services" staffer. Was a reasonable thing to do ... in the main he was trying to help us cast as wide a net as possible. Nothing wrong with that.

Will never forget, however, his discussing whether a given hire might, or might not, contribute to the university's diversity. Per him a hire's being, say, black wouldn't contribute to diversity. Only a hire who's black and from the U.S. would. On the other hand, a hire of Asian descent who grew up in the U.S. would not contribute to diversity, whereas a hire who's an actual Asian would.

It was very, very confusing. Sometimes I wonder if that was the point.

 

The means justify the end.

 

Sounds like a South Park episode. What was his reason for the Asian who grew up in the U.S. not contributing to diversity?

 

It doesn't matter whether a policy works, it only matters that we support it.

 

Don't recall that he gave a reason.

 

Was anyone sitting there thinking how the F does that make sense?

 

I think colleges would tell you they look at a variety of factors.

If you are Stanford or Harvard or other elite schools, you could easily fill your freshman class with nothing but kids that have a 4.0 or better GPA, 36 ACT and were members of the Spanish Honor Society. But is that what you want?

Geogprahic diversity also comes into play. For example, an Asian kid with a 4.0 and 35 ACT score from California would have a lot harder time getting into Yale than an Asian kid from North Dakota with the exact same grades, test scores and extracurriculars.

 

Oh yeah ... but what are you gonna do, get into a philosophical discussion right there?

 

I think those who are suing have a little more than just the GPA and ACT. But since they live in NYC or an area where there are a lot of Asian Americans, guess that's a strike against them.

 

Well, yeah. Kind of. I hate the subjective weighing of kids' extracurriculars, or life experiences. Who is to say that our school newspaper experiences should weigh less than someone else's five clubs that they never actually did anything for?

 

If not there, where? You're academics!

 

You mean get in an a discussion with a diversity office whose only job is to read the FAQ written by committee? Have to feel sorry for the diversity officer, who probably has as English or American studies degree.