Bigotry on Campuses

It is a shame that we are seeing a return of bigoted minds in the hallowed halls of learning. These minds today should be totally free of this cancer.

Yet today to understand this we see something that lights this fuse, a feeling of frustration in these young people that we have not seen before, failure because things are “not fair.”

I spoke to a young man, age 21, who is a senior at UC San Diego. He plans to enter the medical profession. I’ve known him since his birth. He has never had a bigoted bone in his body. Years have developed a successful student, athlete, leader and a compassionate human being. When asked whether his college grade-point average would permit access to a UC medical school he stated, “Dad, it isn’t fair . . . our family had no slaves, were part of the system and we succeeded to be educated and earn an honest living; now we hear that more seats must be filled with minorities. Dad, it’s not fair.”

I do not believe in discrimination but when I hear that affirmative action has replaced selection based on merit and aptitude I can understand the frustration of a young man who sees people far less qualified being given “extra points” for affirmative action. It becomes personal. To express feelings in opposition brings cries of “racist.”

The kids today are feeling the brunt of all this and a few respond in socially unacceptable ways. They are not right in what they do, agreed, but let’s look at the problem. My son is right when he says, “Dad, it’s not fair.”

IRA KAPLAN

Woodland Hills