Johnny took a look at the scholarship requirements for his college and there was an alarming statistic that took him completely by surprise. The fact is this, to earn and maintain the school's Chancellors Scholarship, Johnny, a Caucasian male, would need to maintain a 3.25 GPA every semester in order to earn the $1,000 a semester scholarship. When he looked further down the list, he found a scholarship only for minorities which would grant them full tuition and other benefits. The astounding stat that Johnny found was that in order to maintain this full tuition scholarship, they would only need to maintain a 2.75 GPA, for almost $1,000-$2,000 more per semester. He sat there and wondered, why should I have to work harder for a scholarship worth less aid than a minority to earn a scholarship worth double the aid?
Well in Nebraska and three other states, measures have been taken to eliminate Affirmative Action programs, which allow for certain privileges to minorities in the academic and work fields. Back in the November election, Nebraska put the initiative on the ballot after the petition gained the 100,000 signatures needed to put it to vote. Nebraskans voted in favor of the initiative, banning minority scholarships and the use of minority practices in admissions at colleges. Colorado and California are two other states that put Affirmative Action to the test.
For one, eliminating minority scholarships and other traditional race- and gender-based affirmative action programs is a step in the right direction for a country looking to turn a page in equality. In this country, it should always be about who is more qualified for the position, rather then granting it to a lesser qualified minority in order to fill a quota. When it comes to minority scholarships offered by universities, it is easy to see where the problems exist and why it has come under intense scrutiny under the past few years.
Any educated minority will tell you that in order for this country to fully overcome racism, that Affirmative Action programs need to be changed or erased. In this state, even though the initiative has been voted through and will be passed into law sometime soon, the debate continues in other states in the region, as well as Nebraska. Many believe that this won't be the only time in Nebraska that we see Affirmative Action on the ballot during an election.
Nebraska, on the other hand, is stepping outside the norm and is creating a lead for other states to follow. The reverse discrimination being caused by some Affirmative Action programs can be altered to make sure everyone gets an equal shot at earning that reward. If it is a scholarship, the winner should be chosen based on criteria, not by their gender or color of their skin.
In a day and age where the United States just elected its first African-American President, the excitement for the end of racism and discrimination is very palpable in the air of change. It will be interesting to see what kind of leadership Nebraska will take in its role as an innovator in disallowing these programs.
Maybe Johnny will have a chance to earn that scholarship he deserves after all.
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