Little more than’ virtue-signaling clutter,’ constitutional scholar says
One legitimate expert expressed concern about potential racial bias after receiving a$ 200, 000 offer to attract more American American students for its automation system.
The Michigan university received the grant in December from the scientific group TEAM-UP Up Expanding eXpertise, Championing Excellence and Leadership, according to a press release.
According to the transfer, the money will be used to “increase the number of African American kids earning degrees in physics and astronomy.”
TEAM-UP is a” shared actions program established by the American Association of Physics Teachers, American Astronomical Society, American Institute of Physics, American Physical Society, and Society of Physics Kids”.
According to its site, its target is” to promote widespread change in the real science community and increase success for Black and African American students pursuing physics and astronomy undergraduate levels.”
TEAM-UP aims to “double the number of African Americans earning bachelor’s degrees in physics and science by 2030″ and to” make a more productive environment for African American individuals.”
According to the Albion news release, TEAM-UP leaders were impressed by its physics program” Belonging, Resilience, Retention, and Identity Through Robotics” . , The program specifically focuses on African American students studying physics and astronomy.
Physics Department Chair Professor Nicolle Zellner pointed to the news release when contacted about the offer and advised The College Fix to get in touch with school director Melissa Anderson with inquiries.
Nevertheless, Anderson did not respond to a follow up message, asking about issues regarding the offer and racial discrimination.
The lack of picture by African Americans in the field of science is a nationwide issue, according to Zellner in the transfer, and the offer will help address this issue at the local levels. By establishing relationships with group partners, partnerships with Develop Albion and Concord Middle School did advance these efforts.
MORE: A complaint was made against NIU for programs that appear to be limited to dark kids.
The offer was provided by a personal foundation for Albion.
But, that does not make it any less concerning, according to Cornell Law School Professor William Jacobson, leader of the Equal Protection Project. The legal firm works to protect all people’s civil liberties and equitable treatment, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Jacobson expressed concerns about the ambiguity of the offer in an email to The Fix.
Unless it contains” certain characteristics with which to measure achievement”, the venture is little more than “virtue-signaling fluff”, he told The Fix.
” This ambiguous language in the offer information coincides with the basic strategy seen in other diversity efforts at Albion,” Jacobson said. ” At this stage, we don’t know enough to state whether the vague language reflects non-discrimination or is meant to suppress bias”.
Albion claims that the offer will be used to “focus on” the first two years of college programs centered on technology, with the hope that this plan will “help increase the number of African American kids and make a design that can be implemented somewhere,” Jacobson stated.
They don’t, however, give certain information about how they want to improve student enrollment or retention for African Americans. According to him, those facts are crucial in determining whether a constitutional issue exists.
Jacobson argued that the school” may be open to using these grant funds and check whether there is discrimination occurring in the background.”
The university’s La attempts go beyond the robotics program. Additionally, Albion is working to alter the faculty’s and officials ‘ attitudes toward minority groups.
In a new post, the university noted sending faculty and administrators to sessions about “attracting majority entrants” in STEM fields. The training was provided by federal taxpayer funds.
Attendees “reflected ] on the unique barriers and issues that the Albion College STEM departments face when it comes to retention and persistence of minority groups,” according to the article.
Additionally, Albion’s Office of Belonging aims to “reduce systemic racism and foster effective power sharing.”
The Fix contacted Jacobson to find out if he believes the college is going about it in the right direction, particularly in light of the TEAM-UP grant, because African American success in college is important to Albion.
Jacobson responded,” I don’t think it’s fair to group people according to their skin color and identity group in order to measure success.”
What is crucial is that each person is treated like a person, not just as a representative of a particular identity group. If each individual is treated fairly, then group performance really doesn’t matter as a matter of justice, “he said.
Ultimately, Jacobson said”, Discrimination cannot be part of the solution.”
MORE: Trump will provide guidance to ensure that universities adhere to the affirmative action ban.
IMAGE: Albion College
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