University of Chicago Black Law Students Association’s Adventures in Racial Profiling
Apparently some members of the Black Law Students Association at the University of Chicago Law School need a refresher in Constitutional Law. Or maybe some of them could just re-watch Eyes on the Prize and remember why we fight.
A tipster reports on some exclusionary practices undertaken by the BLSA group at what was supposed to be a public forum they were hosting:
Ruckus at University of Chicago Law School after … the Black Law Students Association wouldn’t allow white students to attend a public forum they held. …Note that these events are paid for with white-student dollars, not just funds BLSA raises.
We don’t have the full details on what went down, but we understand that white law students were “discouraged” from attending the event.
Whatever happened, it was so bad that Law School Dean of Students Michele Richardson felt compelled to send out an email to the entire law school community.
Update (6:01): More coverage is available here.
The Dean’s letter and BLSA’s response after the jump.
On Tuesday, Dean Richardson sent out the following email:
Dear Students,I heard about this unfortunate incident from several other students, and I went down to the classroom to address the issue directly with the sponsors of the event during the lunch hour. The leaders of the student organization just left my office, and reassured me that it was not their intention to inappropriately exclude their fellow classmates. They also, both personally and on behalf of their organization, sincerely apologized for any hurt feelings that resulted from the unfortunate remark and now clearly understand our policies that prohibit such exclusion.
I wanted to be sure that everyone understands that from the Law School’s perspective, it was absolutely inappropriate to restrict the event in this manner. Our student organizations and the events they sponsor are funded by your law student Fees and are required to be open to any law student who wishes to participate. We try to make this clear to all student organization leaders at the beginning of the year, but want to re-emphasize this once again.
Most importantly, it is critical that we all do our best to treat each other respectfully in this community at all times, and err in the direction of being inclusive rather than exclusive. When challenges like this arise, I hope all of us can view them as opportunities to learn from our mistakes and to be forgiving of each other. I ask all of you to do your best to put this behind you, and to focus on the exams that are ahead. Please feel free to stop by my office if you would like to talk about this matter or any other concerns.
All the best,
Dean Richardson
We have no idea what the “unfortunate remark” was, but the BLSA president also sent around an apology:
Apologies to non-BLSA members who tried to attend the Pre-Finals Break event with Goldberg Kohn in Room B during lunch today. There was confusion in the weekly law briefs as to whether the event was open to all law students. However, the small seating capacity and food availability made limiting attendance to BLSA members a requirement.We hope that you will join us at other events in the future!
Clearly, “confusion” did occur. But another tipster reports that black law students who were not members of BLSA were allowed to attend the event.
Just to be clear, you can’t exclude the public from a public event that is funded with public dollars. Let’s hope BLSA gets the message this time.
Earlier: Prior ATL Coverage of the University of Chicago Law School.
(273) 
Comments
firstie mcracistson!
It's MICHELLE Richardson, and she's a black woman. FAIL on the Michael Richards joke.
I have a dream that one day my children will be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
These pretzels are almost making me 2nd tier.
What was the remark?
"felt compelled to send [out] an email to the entire law school community."
FIRST to comment on grammer.
D'oh. Totally right #2. My bad.
--Elie
Unprintable?
Elie, the University of Chicago is not a public institution.
damn, I thought only white people who didn't vote for Obama were racist...
Eat my ass #15!
Also, it's MICHELE Richardson, and she's the Dean of Students, not the actual Dean, who is the much-despised Dean Levmore.
FAIL at both the Michael Richards joke and in the above correction, although Dean Richardson is a black woman.
http://www.law.uchicago.edu/faculty/richardson
My grandparents used to exclude people because of race all the time. It was no big deal.
8 - Don't you think more than a "d'oh" is in order? Don't you think that's worth a significant mea culpa?
Were non-black students prohibited or were non-BLSA members prohibited? While both probably violated the rules, if non-BLSA members were prohibited and non-blacks are allowed to join BLSA , then it wasn't as racist as the article makes it sound.
10, I think Elie was trying to make a bad anology between public citizens in a nation and law students in a law school.
8 - Don't you think more than a "d'oh" is in order? Don't you think that's worth a significant mea culpa?
elie can i hang out with you even though you're black and i'm white? i also don't make as many grammatical mistakes, is that alright?
-nervous T-10 1L
email job leads to nervoust101l@yahoo.com
1 interview :)
7 dings :(:(:(:(:(:(:(
171 pending...
1 "wait until january" :/
If a bunch of white students excluded blacks from an event, the UChicago dean would:
1) send out an email conveying apologies on behalf of the white students for their "unfortunate" remarks.
2) expel the white students.
Take a wild guess.
Remark was probably something along the lines of "Who brought the crackers to the lunch?" or something else witty.
10,
Both the event and the money funding it were "public" within the context of the student body. It wasn't a reference to the actual Public (i.e. taxpayers).
PS, #6 is a stealth pro-Elie troll shamefully making fun of honest and righteous grammar Nazism!
/searches for missing commas
Do you think this would ever happen in the reverse? Would a law school organization comprised of all white persons ever exclude black law students from attending? Absolutely not. You know why? Because all HELL would break loose. The NAACP would be on National Television talking about the incident. The NAACP would also be at the front door of that law school the next day. This is a sad day in Chicago. Wow. A group of BLSA students excluding whites from attending their meeting. I can only imagine the repercussion white students would feel if they had done the same. I doubt an email smoothing the situation over would have sufficed.
Reverse racism is obviously a problem in this country. The sad thing is, most people are too scared to take a stand against it.
38 NAILED IT!
If nervous T-10 1L gets a job, I'm going to find him and beat him mercilessly. No 1-L should be getting a job in this market...
Hey nervous T-10 1L
Congrats on your interview! Good luck with your finals.
Law school micro-drama, so heated, so unimportant.
It surprises me that BLSA then sent out a 2nd email saying, "Actually, we were right. Suck it whiteys."
17/22, Elie clearly seems to believe that the Constitution forbids the kind of exclusion the UofC BLSA is accused of engaging in. This is something of a continuing issue for him; he seems not to ever have gotten the "no state action" memo in law school. If you want to find anything that could possibly prohibit this sort of exclusion, you'll have to look to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
-10
Send "our" an email? Come now, MysTTTal.
Nervous T-10 1L > other ATL posters.
Except Legal Frat Loth.
and me, of course.
20, 23-
The difference in response is b/c of the long history of oppression of blacks that whites never experienced. The black students at an elite law school like Chicago are OBVIOUSLY still feeling the effects of such an oppressive society, thereby justifying a more gracious response to their discriminatory acts.
Elie,
CHECK your FACTS. The person who sent the email is and WAS a former student when they sent the email!
thanks 26! civ pro is a week from today (surprisingly not so nervous).
25: :(
-nervous T-10 1L
email job leads to nervoust101l@yahoo.com
1 interview :)
7 dings :(:(:(:(:(:(:(
171 pending...
1 "wait until january" :/
24 nailed it!
If I ruled the world ...
I'd free all my sons ...
Black diamonds and pearls ...
If I ruled the world.
-NAS
32
In which country are you living? Blacks are not oppressed in this country. We have a black president.
28,
The BLSA president sent out her email before the Dean's email was sent. Also, the BLSA president just withdrew from the law school...totally unrelated reasons.
Elie,
CHECK your FACTS. The person who sent the email is and WAS a former student when they sent the email!
7 you are an asswipe
1) I am embarassed on behalf of the Chicago BLSA...way to make fools of yourselves! I was in BLSA in law school, I'm not black...and nobody ever even blinked.
Then again, I guess my law school is higher in US News than Chicago for a reason...
2) All of the (presumably white) commenters complaining about reverse racism and using the "if white students had done this counterfactual: I agree with you - a little - but...you ARE, in face, probably racists.
I guess what I'm trying to say is: I'm sick of you. All of you. Black, white...law is colorblind, you're all losers. As TGood Marshall once said of Clarence Thomas in a senile outburst: "a snake is a snake, don't matter what color it is."
37: umm our president George W Bush is not black.
although affirmative action would explain how he got into Yale and HBS
37, turn on your sarcasm meter.
29--it's amazing that Elie could screw up on the Constitution--Con Law apparently is the only course offered at HLS these days
37 -- don't hate. Hater.
23 is an idiot who should shut his/her butt. Such uproar would be generally deserved. Cops weren't consistently and categorically shooting firehoses at white Americans 40 years ago.
Also, nervous t10 1L is fucked. Should've gone to law school two years ago. Just saying.
what a hoot. Racist blacks being racist. No surprise there. The only surprise is that they didn't get away with it this time.
Elie,
CHECK your FACTS. The person who sent the email is and WAS a former student when they sent the email!
Impolitic? Yes. Unconstitutional? There's no state action here. Zero.
23 - dead on.
41, so it's racist to point out racial double standards?
I guess you think that if a woman were to point out sexual double standards, that would make her a sexist? Ok dude.
32, I disagree that those students are "obviously still feeling the effects of such an oppressive society . . . ." But, even still, does that give them the right to discriminate against whites? Let's remember that these students were most likely not alive during the "oppression of blacks" that you speak about. And, even if your theory is true, how long do law school deans and other people in a position of authority respond to blatant reverse racism with "a more gracious response" solely because of the "long history of oppression." In other words, how long are blacks justified in discriminating against whites because they were previously discriminated against?
It seems as though today, a day when we have a black President elect, whites who never were a part of the "history of oppression of blacks" should stop getting unequal treatment just because they are white. They weren't alive during the 60's. Neither were these students who attempted to bar white attendees.
When is the "history of oppression" argument going to end?
I know for certain that at least one Boston law school's BLSA excludes all non-blacks from becoming members.
Right on 41!
I too am sick of all of you. All of you. Especially if you are either black or white.
Point 1: These BLSA students were dead wrong. No excuses.
Point 2: It kills me to hear white people get all up in arms about reverse racism while continuing to deny that racism exists.
23 -- what are you talking about? There's little or no reverse racism in America. Where do you live?? Houston?
I'm positive that Jesse Jackson will roll in pronto, with news cameras in tow.
52,
I guess you didn't get the sarcasm. 32's post is dripping with it.
The comment was something along the lines of:
"If you're not black, you're not getting into this room."
32, I disagree that those students are "obviously still feeling the effects of such an oppressive society . . . ." But, even still, does that give them the right to discriminate against whites? Let's remember that these students were most likely not alive during the "oppression of blacks" that you speak about. And, even if your theory is true, how long do law school deans and other people in a position of authority respond to blatant reverse racism with "a more gracious response" solely because of the "long history of oppression." In other words, how long are blacks justified in discriminating against whites because they were previously discriminated against?
It seems as though today, a day when we have a black President elect, whites who never were a part of the "history of oppression of blacks" should stop getting unequal treatment just because they are white. They weren't alive during the 60's. Neither were these students who attempted to bar white attendees.
When is the "history of oppression" argument going to end?
A couple of clarifying points:
It looks to me like this event was not paid for with "public" money but was sponsored by Goldberg Kohn specifically for BLSA members. It is too bad if some non-members were admitted and others were not, but I'm willing to bet that this was a logistics issue based entirely on the amount of money Goldberg Kohn was willing to pony up.
For the sake of disclosure: I'm a white, non-BLSA member, recent U of C grad.
what was the remark!?!!
46 - Though I am embarassed by this nation's history of racism and agree it is lamentable, why are we stuck on what happened 40 years ago? If the goal of our modern society is to be colorblind, then let's truly be colorblind. I hate it when someone says it doesn't matter whether a person is black or white... but then that same person reacts differently when presented with two situations that are identical except for the color of the subject's skin. One word: hypocrisy.
60 -- why do you deny my oppression? Hater.
61- the event was not sponsored by Goldberg Kohn, it was being presented by a Goldberg Kohn partner but paid for with student activities funds which are contributed from all students.
who is the president of BLSA who sent the email?
There is no such thing as "reverse" racism. It's just plain racism.
Some of you are so fucking lame.
This must be part of that "change" the President-Elect was talking about.
Chicago admits the blacks?
Who knew?
what was the remark!?!!
After reading this story and these comments, I can't wait for global warming to kill us all off!
I will start using hair spray twice daily to speed up the process.
As Chris Rock said: "There isn't a white guy in this room who would trade places with me- and I'm rich!"
The term "reverse racism" is generally offensive to me - m-w.com defines "reverse" as "opposite or contrary to a previous or normal condition."
To me, the term "reverse racism" seems to imply that discrimination against whites (if such a thing exists, a proposition I'm highly skeptical of) is worse than discrimination against all other racial groups (which is normal racism, I guess?).
In explaining this idea to other people, though, I've never met anyone who shared my interpretation of "reverse racism." In my head, though, whenever I hear someone use that term, I think to myself "that person is an idiot."
Waiting to slide on in.
I'm a white republican who voted for McC, but I really do hope that the election of Obama puts an end to the pathetic chip that every black person has on his or her shoulder. Enough. We like you. All of you. Unless you suck, in which case we don't. But I don't like whiteys who suck, either. I will never understand why Black people reject C Thomas, the guy that stands for putting your nose down, working hard, and getting along with everyone. If black people collectively decided that he was their de facto leader, rather than Jesse or Rev Al, we all would be light years ahead of where we are right now in terms of race relations; it would be a non-issue.
Also, If you want me to keep thinking that you get everything in life because you're black, keep pushing affirmative action. If you want me to respect all blacks, not just the ones who do work hard, work to end affirmative action. Until then, I'll just assume that every black person at HLS or at a great firm got there just because (s)he is black, not because of their abilities.
61--I don't really see how that's an improvement. It still would violate the law school's policies if students were admitted or excluded to the event on the basis of race.
74, if you want to find an example of discrimination against whites because of the color of their skin, why don't you scroll up and read this very post to learn that such a "thing" exists.
They pee on your fucking rug.
WHO MADE THE COMMENT?
WHO MADE THE COMMENT?
76,
I would guess that most black people care about your advice or whether or not you respect them.
I find it hard to believe that if affirmative action ended tomorrow you would ever change your opinion about black people.
76,
I would guess that most black people do not care about your advice or whether or not you respect them.
I find it hard to believe that if affirmative action ended tomorrow you would ever change your opinion about black people.
78 - a lot of people like to jump to conclusions, but I don't. It seems like the facts of this post are unclear at best.
You see, I'm going to err on the side of assuming people aren't racist. Maybe that makes me an idealist, but whatever. While the facts are unclear, I'm going to land on the side that this is something less scandalous that has been blown out of proportion.
In the same vein, unlike 76, I would assume "every black person at HLS or at a great firm" WAS qualified, and make more substantive opinions about their qualifications, you know, after I worked with them and such.
-74
Who else thinks it is ridiculously stupid that 76 thought it would benefit his argument to state that he was a white Republican who voted for McCain? When he says "but" in his first sentence, he should have said "therefore."
Wow, a fight over Goldberg Kohn?
I'm a current Chicago student. The remark was "If the color of your skin isn't black, then you can't come in here," accompanied by the speaker placing her arm across the door to block it.
What's stunning about the whole thing is the need to say "if the color of your skin isn't black..." If food or space was a concern, all that needed to be said was "this meeting is for BLSA members only;" no one would've cared. It's shocking that someone smart enough to get into Chicago could be so stupid.
First of all, the event was not funded by public dollars. Secondly, it was a gathering targeting BLSA members. Just like any other group, Jewish Law Students Asssocation, Gay and Lesbian law students association, may have private persons sponsor programming on their behalf; the Black Students had such an endeavor. There was no intention to exclude there was just a miscommunication about the target group for the event. Boy, you'd think BLSA had hung an effigy of a white person. This is a non-news worthy over reaction.
WGG
IIRC, BLSA's national chapter originally forbid whites from being members. Several local law school BLSA chapters, I think, boycotted nationals and refused to send dues, etc. until the policy was overturned. It eventually was . But this is all anecdotal; any specifics would be appreciated.
87, who was the speaker of that remark? Name and/or BLSA title, please.
~V10 hiring partner
#8 Nailed It. Also, #8 appears to be a mouse with a giant head.
63: not sure what the point of your post was, but i can answer this question "why are we stuck on what happened 40 years ago?"
if your parent or grandparent was beaten because of the color of his or her skin or was forced to watch a family member be lynched, wouldn't you think that would be stuck on your mind for a while?
I'm a white Chicago student, and I have no problem with being excluded from BLSA or BLSA events, if BLSA members feel that the exclusion of whites (or non-blacks) helps them to further their own purposes.
Really, this event makes me more embarrassed for the (probably white) students who made a big deal out of this. Talk about white privilege rearing its ugly head.
14- the credited response
63 probably also thinks Jewish people should forget about the Holocaust.
Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington is announcing naming rights deal today.
96: probably the Planned Parenthood School of Law.
http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=64962&comview=1
were latinos, asians, and native americans barred or discouraged from attending as well?
95 - Jews remember the holocaust, but don't ask for preferential treatment in everything from school admissions to gov't contracts just because of the holocaust.
- a baptist
I love how blacks and white-guilt liberals manage to turn outrage against racial discrimination against non-blacks because of the color of their skin into outrage against white privilege.
If you can't possibly fathom how white people can be racially discriminated against, think about how Asians were excluded from the event too. Racial discrimination against Asians is bad, no?
Or are they "white" and get white privilege too?
were latinos, asians, and native americans barred or discouraged from attending as well?
1- U of C's BLSA does not have any membership requirements or dues.
2- U of C's BLSA has continually had non-Black exec board members.
3- There were non-Black students who were in attendance b/c they were invited by BLSA.
4- The statements that were made did not reflect the organization as a whole, but a former member and former student who had recently gone rogue.
whoever the idiots are saying student dollars didn't pay for this... the dean clearly implies in her letter that the blsa officers violated policy even before the racist comment.
Trolls.
http://www.bitterlawyer.com/index.php/site/columns_detail_comment/seven_species_of_legal_website_trolls/?cat_id=13
It's DISGUSTING that we even allow racial-separatist organizations on our campuses. Along with the federal "Black Caucus" (and other race-based caucuses), they should be abolished.
This is the OPPOSITE from MLK, Jr.'s desire for a race-blind society.
Thanks to BLSA, this has become a RACE-FOCUSED society.
Absolutely disgusting.
95 - Nobody should ever forget the holocaust. Just like nobody should ever forget the 400 years of racism that helped build this country. I wasn't saying we should forget these things or pretend they never happened. They must be remembered as this is how we progress as a society. All Im saying is that if we are going to claim that racism is dead and that we are now a colorblind society (or at least strive for a colorblind society), then it is both hypocritical and counterproductive to still treat to groups differently based on race.
102, you sure there are no dues?
"Membership in BLSA is open to any law student that is committed to BLSA's goals and purpose. All dues paying members are afforded the benefits of membership in the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). "
http://blsa.uchicago.edu/officers.html
Iraqi Information Minister "Comical" Ali, is that you?
93: apparently "white privilege" in your mind means clamoring for equality. If another group at UofC, filled with white students, had a speaker at the door that said "You can't enter if your skin isn't white" there would likely be a riot. BUT since its the BLSA that is discriminating, its suddenly ok?
Once again, this just goes to prove that a large segment of the so-called "progressives" and "liberals" are some of the most intolerant individuals outside of the extreme-right wing movements. Do as I say, not as I do - nice.
Is Nervous t10 IL an actual person? A joke gone too far? It's too hard to tell these days.
I ask because I wonder why a law firm would give an interview to a 1L who has no law school grades. Did he do really well in high school or something?
102 - now the BLSA gets to exclude some whites, but yet invite others in?
Black people shoot themselves in the thigh muscle all the time, its no big deal.
Mr. Bronfman
Re: 87
Who said you had to be smart to get into Chicago?
105, I definitely agree with your second sentence that, all too often, black groups totally disregard and distort MLK's (perfect) message, but I'm a fan of people celebrating their ethnicity. I would never want to note have Italian-American clubs, Irish-American, Israeli-American, Slovac-American, African-American, etc. I think it's good that we remember where we came from and celebrate our past. But the BLSA here just took it too far; instead of celebrating their own history, they are creating segregation. that blows.
Barack Obama - former faculty advisor and sponsor of the BLSA while he was at Chicago. Wonder if he instituted this "black only" policy?
There is no such thing as "reverse racism". It's just racism! Calling it reverse racism insinuates that the only real "racism" is whites against other groups and anything else is the "reverse" of that. If blacks are racist against whites, it's just "racism"
74 = In my head I am thinking that you are an idiot. How does reverse suggest that it is worse?
74 - In my head I am thinking that you are an idiot. How does reverse suggest that it is worse?
82,
I'm not going to defend what I wrote. I just wanted to share how I feel so that you, and everyone, can better understand me. This anonymous blogging thing is queer because I, of course, can hide behind curtain. I explained my demographics to hopefully encourage a more honest discussion. I'm just telling you how I feel. that's all. I don't pretend to know what typical is, but if typical exists, I'm it. No one can be this honest in person, so I thought I'd try anonymously. whatever.
It wasn't right but to be clear - the event was sponsored by a firm, for the school's BLSA. The pres, from what I understand, was trying to limit the event to students in the organization, black, white and latino alike, and white students cried foul.
119: the comment "if your skin is not black, you can not enter" completely contradicts your defense. How about criticizing the racist who uttered those words and not justify their behavior?
Right. Thought you wouldn't. Guess one can dream of a day when liberals will react just as vehemently to racism and injustice perpetuated by their allies as they do when white people engage in the same tactics.
119, so it's not BLSA's fault, because it was the firm that wanted to explicitly keep out all people whose skin color ain't black?
Ok whatever you say, BLSA President.
wow...some of these comments are incredibly ugly. Esp. 76 - hate much?
115, right on. 74, you're what's wrong with this country - idiot.
122: 76 might be ugly, but the comment "if you're not black, you cannot enter" is pretty ugly too. How about you call attention to that one?
-120
This entire post is pretty much race-baiting. As if Elie wasn't well aware of the kind of comments such a post would generate. It's called discretion, MysTTTal.
76 is the worst kind of racist, the one who wholeheartedly believes he is a tolerant person.
paragraph going from "i like white people" to basically "i respect no black people because of affirmative action"
meant to write "i like black people"
124 - I'm just saying, atl themselves say they do not have enough information. Let's not all be so quick to judge.
I heard the Grand Wizard just showed up at Chicago to protest BLSA's racism.
23 and 76 need to run for office. I will write you both checks today.
FINALLY!!! News on this blog about something other than layoffs.
23 and 76 need to run for office. I will write you both checks today.
I heard the Grand Wizard just showed up at Chicago to protest BLSA's racism.
86 - Goldberg Kohn is great work if you can get it.
126 is the worst kind of racist, the one who wholeheartedly believes affirmative action is not racist and that he cannot possibly be racist because he's black.
I love how liberals say things like "Even if you whiteys don't actually say anything racist, you're PROBABLY racist if you don't agree with our interpretation of how society should work, which means giving minorities special privileges and the benefit of the doubt every single time"
I, personally, think the fact that a BLACK Law Student's Association even exists is ridiculous. Could you imagine what would happen if there was a White Law Student's Association?
And also, could somebody actually explain what happened? Did they say "Only BLSA members" or "Only Black people."
Black people shoot themselves in the thigh muscle all the time, its no big deal.
Mr. Bronfman
-----------------------------
racist hebe
37, have you ever heard the expression it is better to be quiet and have people think you are a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it? you should think about this before you make your next comment. The current President is white and the fact that the incoming President is black does not mean that racism ceases to exist. If that is what you really believe you have a naive view of the world and this country in particular. We have come a long way but we are not at the end
37, have you ever heard the expression it is better to be quiet and have people think you are a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it? you should think about this before you make your next comment. The current President is white and the fact that the incoming President is black does not mean that racism ceases to exist. If that is what you really believe you have a naive view of the world and this country in particular. We have come a long way but we are not at the end
I'm a white republican who voted for McC, but I really do hope that the election of Obama puts an end to the pathetic chip that every negro has on his or her shoulder. Enough. We like you. All of you. Unless you suck, in which case we don't. But I don't like whiteys who suck, either. I will never understand why Black people reject working hard, and getting along with everyone.
If you want me to respect all blacks, not just the ones who do work hard, work to end affirmative action. Until then, I'll just assume that every black person at HLS or at a great firm got there just because (s)he is black, not because of their abilities.
I heard the Grand Wizard just showed up at Chicago to protest BLSA's racism.
where all da white women at?
140 = liberal troll
Notice the difference in the cut and past in line one:
87s quote:
"I'm a white republican who voted for McC, but I really do hope that the election of Obama puts an end to the pathetic chip that every black person has on his or her shoulder. Enough. We like you. All of you. Unless you suck, in which case we don't. But I don't like whiteys who suck, either. I will never understand why Black people reject C Thomas, the guy that stands for putting your nose down, working hard, and getting along with everyone. If black people collectively decided that he was their de facto leader, rather than Jesse or Rev Al, we all would be light years ahead of where we are right now in terms of race relations; it would be a non-issue.
Also, If you want me to keep thinking that you get everything in life because you're black, keep pushing affirmative action. If you want me to respect all blacks, not just the ones who do work hard, work to end affirmative action. Until then, I'll just assume that every black person at HLS or at a great firm got there just because (s)he is black, not because of their abilities."
contrast with 140. Good try.
140 here:
87 is supposed to be "76".
20's comment is important. White students would have been expelled for this and had their financial futures ruined.
37, have you ever heard the expression it is better to be quiet and have people think you are a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it? you should think about this before you make your next comment. The current President is white and the fact that the incoming President is black does not mean that racism ceases to exist. If that is what you really believe you have a naive view of the world and this country in particular. We have come a long way but we are not at the end
140 = racist troll parading as a GULCer
either way, sucks to be you, stud.
elie = sarah palin thinking first amendment applies to news reporters
138: The incoming President isn't "black".
He's of mixed heritage. Or do you subscribe to the one-drop rule? Like BHO said, he's a mutt (as are many/most of us).
I'm a white republican who voted for McC, but I really do hope that the election of Obama puts an end to the pathetic chipwich that every negro person has on his or her shoulder. Enough. We like you. All of you. Unless you suck, in which case we don't. But I don't like whiteys who suck, either. I will never understand why negro people reject C Thomas, the guy that stands for putting your nose down, working hard, and getting along with everyone. If black people collectively decided that he was their de facto leader, rather than Jesse or Rev Al, we all would be light years ahead of where we are right now in terms of race relations; it would be a non-issue.
Also, If you want me to keep thinking that you get everything in life because you're black, keep pushing affirmative action. If you want me to respect all blacks, not just the ones who do work hard, work to end affirmative action. Until then, I'll just assume that every black person at HLS or at a great firm got there just because (s)he is black, not because of their abilities.
76/140: Amen.
147: Example of black person with chip on their shoulder.
As long as white people benefit from the oppressive and exclusive acts of their parents, grandparents and past ancestry, black should receive advantages and benefits to offset the cumulative loss.
None of us were on equal footing when we were born 20-30 years ago, but our kids will be closer than us and so on. Eventually, it will be even.
If white people want their family to share in the subsidy, so to speak, they should marry a black person.
"Just to be clear, you can't exclude the public from a public event that is funded with public dollars. Let's hope BLSA gets the message this time."
um, only at UChicago
20, you are correct.
Maybe we can work together to "build a better legal profession" where bigotry and discrimination have no place.
The outrage over this event is ridiculous.
I would bet money that the reason why all black students could attend this event was likely that ALL black students are automatically members of the Black Law Students Association. Every stupid ethnic organization on campus works this way. In general, if you "checked the box" as black, you are automatically a member of the club even if you never signed up for a single email list or made contact with any other black person on campus. For similar reasons, Asians endure years of unsolicited emails from Asian students associations. This is because, on most campuses, you are automatically admitted to an ethnic organization by virtue of being that ethnicity. Random nutcases of other ethnicities are welcome to join. Im sure these people (if they existed) would also have been let into the event.
I'm all about eliminating reverse racism but this bizarre outrage is absurd.
I think if you have a big chip on your shoulder you should see a doctor. The problem is more than likely glandular. I saw it on an episode of House once.
There is no lunch meeting black enough? Did they let high yellow people in? Or did they have to sit on the floor?
23 is EXACTLY RIGHT.
150=140
PLEASE stop trying to fan the racist flame you liberal troll. Whoever wants to see the actual quote go to comment #76 and ignore the liberal race baiter 150/140.
So many white people are hypocrites. If you had something you could milk to get special treatment (eg, that offer at wachtell, a spot at yls), you'd shamelessly milk it too! Don't be such haters! Many of my black friends tease me about it -- they KNOW that they're milking preferences and while liberal guilt, but so what? Good for them! If white liberals are stupid enough to feel guilty and give you special treatment, i don't blame minorities for taking advantage!
if someone gives you $100 b/c they "feel sorry for you," are you gonna turn it down? As for "pride," Marsellis wallace said it best: "F*ck pride. It only hurts. It never helps." You can keep your pride -- minorites will keep their spots at YLS.
Can't we all just join hands and unite in the knowledge that on a daily basis Elie MysTTTal publicly displays the reason why he couldn't make it as an attorney?
The comments section on this blog is useless. If you're not going to moderate them, then just turn them off.
61 = MindTheGap.
Also, word has it a number of V25 firms are hiring only "diverse" 1Ls this year.
this is not news-worthy. the person who made the comment was joking and it is being blown way out of proportion.
152: my parents immigrated from Europe. How am I benefitting from the "abuses" of my grandfather?
Exactly, no answer. Don't you see the logical flaw here? When did your parents come here? Were they slaves? Can you trace it? If not, then back down. Affirmative action applies to people who are fresh off the boat as well as those who are descendants of slaves. It is based on RACE, not history or anything else logical.
Maybe white Chicago alumni should now "discourage" Chicago admissions from admitting black students with 159 LSAT's. Then that would "discourage" them from attending.
Wow, 152 is as racist a KKK Grand Wizard. "If white people want their family to share in the subsidy, so to speak, they should marry a black person."
152, do you realize that America is not "black" and "white"? There are millions of Americans from Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe that had no part in the oppression of black people. In fact, most white (whatever that means) people in America did not oppress black people; it was mainly the south, where less than 25% of the American population now lives. The descendants of pure "white" people that lived in slave states is less than 10 million people.
The main losers in the AA bonanza are Asians and Jews, people that never did anything to blacks. Oh, and Whites that lived in the north. Oh, and whites that came to America after the Civil War. Oh, and whites that came to America after the 60's. Oh, and whites that interbred with blacks and don't have enough black in them to be "African America." Oh, and blacks that actually work hard that don't want free hand-outs. Etc...
The comments section on this blog is useless. If you're not going to moderate them, then just turn them off.
151 Nailed it!
Skeet Skeet Skeet!!
there is already a group for white students on most campuses... it's called fedsoc
THIS IS SPARTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"If you had something you could milk to get special treatment (eg, that offer at wachtell, a spot at yls), you'd shamelessly milk it too! Don't be such haters! " - Yeah, that's the same kind of thinking that brought us slavery and segregation.
"there is already a group for white students on most campuses... it's called fedsoc" - Ok, so you're a racist if you don't believe in liberal political ideas, interesting...
I find all of this to be very offensive. I am going to listen to Cold Play now and try to calm down.
152, I am a descendant of Russian Jews who came to America in the 1890s and in the 1940s. Please explain to me how I, as a white person, "benefit from the oppressive and exclusive acts of their parents, grandparents and past ancestry", while blacks like Barack Obama and Colin Powell, whose ancestors did not suffer slavery at the hands of American whites, receive special preferences.
My wife is a white person whose ancestors lived in the Midwest since the 1830s. Many of her ancestors died in the Civil War, on the Union side. Tell me what kind of oppressive and exclusive acts were made by her ancestors. Ever notice how the vast majority of states in the North did not have school segregation?
First to say that you have to be a real P*#ssy to not go in the room anyway. Unless you are a girl. I would say the same thing if it was the federalist society (the equivalent white supremacist group ;-)
Or maybe I am just belligerent. Don't they have belligerent white students in Chicago?
170, so non-whites are incapable of believing in politically conservative ideas and joining FedSoc?
Wow.
I bet you don't think Clarence Thomas is really 'black' either.
It's revealing who the true racists are in these discussions.
174 is my new hero.
Agreed, 161. Elie was laid off before layoffs were cool.
I'm trying to imagine all the white student members of BLSA (who presumably list said membership on their resumes) when they show up for interviews with firms who saw the BLSA affiliation and assumed they were potential minority hires...
I'm trying to imagine all the white student members of BLSA (who presumably list said membership on their resumes) when they show up for interviews with firms who saw the BLSA affiliation and assumed they were potential minority hires...
What is the name of the person who said the remark. And did she "withdraw" from the Law School?
Some blacks are racist? Shocking. There weren't two school systems in America. There were three because blacks refused to go to school with Indians. They were just nasty vermin to black people.
All races have racists in them. Whites just seem to do a better job marginalizing them than other races do...
NCCU, as I understand it, has meetings that exclude white students as well.
I did not go there, and heard this from a white student who was there.. So, I do not claim to be speaking gospel.
apparently the comment was meant as a joke. the person in question has a very good reputation here at chicago for being a cool, funny, non-racist person.
The remark was: "If your skin's not brown, you're not getting in here!" Classy.
The remark was: "If your skin's not brown, you're not getting in here!" Classy.
They should be ashamed of themselves! This is unacceptable.
again, the fact that it was a joke by a non-officer puts a different light on the event.
the actual problem was that the event was erroneously included in the weekly email to all students as if it were a public event, when in fact it was not meant to be.
What part of 76's comment was racist exactly? Everything he said is spot on. The constant clamoring for victimhood detracts from your credibility. Get over it and let's move on with our lives together.
They should be ashamed of themselves! This is unacceptable.
Why do racially based clubs still exist?
To 174, et al:
No system of retribution or reconciliation is perfect. We all comparatively suffer a loss to some extent b/c Native Americans don't pay federal taxes, and some Native Americans do pay taxes and some (native Mexicans, so to speak) do not benefit for other reasons.
America is indeed a mix of people from hundreds of countries and ethnicities. In American history however, we did not have royal families and a caste system like other places to justify one's role in society. We only had race, black and white, to assign people roles in society. Without role assignment as the foundation of American slavery, capitalism wouldn't have worked here.
Irish and German immigrants are the true largest minority groups in America and were initially discriminated against, but they have since benefited from being close to WASP, so they don't need an adjustment factor.
The comment was tacky, but the full context is important. The event was a firm-sponsored event to recruit black students for summer jobs. This would not have been the LEAST bit useful to a white kid. The student who showed up had no problem with being turned away (again NOT USEFUL TO HIM) and the person who made the remark has a bit of reputation for off-color humor. It comes off much, much worse in print than in delivery. Also the email she sent out came *before* Dean Richardson's, and was clearly her misunderstanding, not an instance that she was right after being told otherwise. She sent out another email today apologizing over it again.
Tempest in a teacup. Let's all move along.
Were gays allowed in?
192, nice rant, except:
Native Americans do pay full federal taxes. Trying to argue that you're a Native American and thus is exempt from federal tax is a frivolous position with specific IRS sanctions. Some don't pay state taxes but that is a function of federalism, not because they're owed anything in a system of "retribution".
Race, which apparently means only black and white, was not the "only" way people knew their roles in society. You must be a parody of black liberation theologists or something, because you can't be for real.
I was there, and I feel like I need to clear up some confusion.
First of all, I am embarrassed to see this on ATL. As much as I think ATL has done a great job of reducing information asymmetries between lawyers and firms, I think it too often jumps the gun on silly things that happen in the nation's law schools. There are many law schools, and hundreds of students, and to see any one person reflect poorly on an entire institution seems a little unfair, especially when the reporting itself is so lackluster and speculative. UChicago is a great school with many intelligent and hard-working people, and I am glad to be surrounded by them in my 1L class (though, IN THIS ECONOMY, I would probably be well-advised to beat them on my upcoming curved Elements and Civil Procedure exams). To see the dirt dished out on a national stage is unnecessary.
Second, I went to the event with the idea that it was an exam-taking session. I am very nervous about my finals, and any reassurance or reinforcement about how to take exams is appreciated. When I got there, I realized that it was a recruiting event for a local firm that wanted diversity, and that the exam-taking session was ancillary to that purpose -- this particular firm has many UChicago alums. A BLSA student correctly informed me that they did not have enough food for everyone, and I agreed, seeing as the food was, indeed, limited. She was very polite and I never felt attacked or otherwise discriminated against. I was more than happy to leave the room because I realized that the event was not directed at me, and I didn't want to take food from those who had paid the BLSA dues and joined the organization.
Had I paid my dues and been a member, it would have been different, but I hadn't, and the firm had not graciously provided food and speakers with the intent of recruiting me. It was an honest mistake on both of our parts.
Again, I emphasize that there was, to the best of my knowledge, NO unfortunate comment, and that this has been blown out of proportion. I think it's silly that an otherwise respected online magazine like ATL needs to stoop to such speculative and hearsay type reporting.
Now, if anyone has any exam-taking tips for Buss or Strauss, I would leave to hear them.
All the best,
Chicago Law Student
Insider sources confirm that the comment was "where all the white women at?"
If you are a race based organization and are worried about "space" get a bigger room. These events tend to be self-selective anyway. Major fail for the BLSA of UC. Our BLSA have recruiting events all the time - and there are minority-recruiting events all the time, not once has there been any exclusionary language attached, that's just not a very careful thing to do
Just to reaffirm the principles on which diversity is founded...
First, just because black students attend law school, it does not make them cases of affirmative action. Duh.
Second, this country still has significant racial inequalities, and law is one of the areas where they exist. Some of us don't want to live in a world like that.
Third, just because your mommy paid for an Kaplan tutor doesn't make you more qualified than someone else. Race matters. It's not a matter of white guilt. I generally find that people who whine about the injustices of affirmative action are lacking in a fundamental quality some people refer to as "character." No one's depriving you of anything, get over it.
Shame on all of you who have contributed to this post without condemning the racist epithet in #7. (Props to #40).
And by the way, #76, perhaps you can refer back to #7 to understand that we are not yet at the point of "enough" despite the fact that you like black people. (By "we," I mean the nation as a whole given that I am white).
And Elie, get yourself together and take down #7. As we can all see, you are #8, so there is absolutely no excuse for your failure to take it down sooner.
Why do we need Affirmative Action, we elected obama. You can't talk about fighting the 'man' when the 'man' is black. You all are good now. A black was elected to the white house. Hip hop won. Now he is a elected everything is going to be fine, you know because 'Hope' will find you a job and 'Change' can pay your mortgage.
Just to reaffirm the principles on which diversity is founded...
First, just because black students attend law school, it does not make them cases of affirmative action. Duh.
Second, this country still has significant racial inequalities, and law is one of the areas where they exist. Some of us don't want to live in a world like that.
Third, just because your mommy paid for an Kaplan tutor doesn't make you more qualified than someone else. Race matters. It's not a matter of white guilt. I generally find that people who whine about the injustices of affirmative action are lacking in a fundamental quality some people refer to as "character." No one's depriving you of anything, get over it.
-202
Not all whites are wealthy. HTH.
202, blacks can easily pay for a Kaplan tutor. You seriously think law students who are borrowing >$100,000 in student loans cannot afford an extra $1k to pay Kaplan?
199/202: "No one's depriving you of anything, get over it."
Really???? Are your serious???
The definition of AA is EXACTLY depriving someone of something. Let me give you an example. Person A has better scores than Person B. UofChicago wants more people of minority group Y, which Person B happens to belong to. Therefore, Person B gets admitted and Person A does not. If race was not factored in, then Person A would have been accepted and Person B would not have.
How does that NOT deprive someone of anything??? Think before you write anything next time.
While I find most of this "whoa is me " white folk banter to be amusing...174 Let's get some things straight. The majority of Northern schools were (de facto) segregated and continue to be to this day. IN FACT, Northern schools tend to be more segregated than schools in the South. ESPECIALLY, in the Midwest.
Also, I love how since Barack is the President (elect), magically racism does not exist. Gee, let me count how many times I've been profiled for being in the "wrong neighborhood".
The issue is not the kaplan tutor to take the lsat, the issue is the K-12 tutoring you are not going to get if your Mom does not know any better. That is not a black or a white thing, just a thing. The mother's educational background is a more significant predictor of academic success than any other factor, including race and zip code. There are plenty of people in Appalachia who have no shot at law school either.
But do you really think there is no benefit to having diversity? Even if it just makes the school and law firm look better to outsiders?
The issue is not the kaplan tutor to take the lsat, the issue is the K-12 tutoring you are not going to get if your Mom does not know any better. That is not a black or a white thing, just a thing. The mother's educational background is a more significant predictor of academic success than any other factor, including race and zip code. There are plenty of people in Appalachia who have no shot at law school either.
But do you really think there is no benefit to having diversity? Even if it just makes the school and law firm look better to outsiders?
206-
count away. And then count how many hand-outs via AA you got because of the color of your skin color. Compare the two and get back to us.
to 205:
No TTT school would do that unless person B had more to offer than Person A borderline LSAT and a lack of cultural perspective.
In economic terms, on average the marginal benefit is higher when you admit a minority student with median range LSAT scores than when you admit a white person in the same range.
We must all cope with the burden of acting white.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acting_white
207/208, if diversity has such great benefits that we can override race-neutral standards, why don't we lower some standards and add some more whites and Asians to the NBA.
A group that's 80% black doesn't look so good to "outsiders" does it?
While I find most of this "whoa is me " white folk banter to be amusing...174 Let's get some things straight. The majority of Northern schools were (de facto) segregated and continue to be to this day. IN FACT, Northern schools tend to be more segregated than schools in the South. ESPECIALLY, in the Midwest.
Also, I love how since Barack is the President (elect), magically racism does not exist. Gee, let me count how many times I've been profiled for being in the "wrong neighborhood".
White guy talking here. I have no had any problem competing with blacks and still getting into schools and getting jobs. I suspect that most whining about AA is from whites that would not have gotten in anyway and are looking for someone to blame. What do you give a shit if the BLS tries to help out some of its own. Do you think it is not an advantage if the interviewer is Italian/Irish/Jewish or whatever ethnicity you are?
Get over it and get better grades next time.
213 must be Joey from Blossom.
212, the point is that the African-American. woman, hispanic, whatever will be able to do the job just as well. Kind of like Larry Bird or Steve Nash or Yao Ming. You don't think their popularity/value to their team is higher because of their ethnicity?
210-
205 here. Wake up from your fantasy world where gumdrops fall from the sky and we all play in rainbows filled with skittles. In the real world this is exactly what happens.
Let me explain it simply so you will understand:
[1] diversity is factored into law school rankings, so it pays to have a decent minority pool
[2] schools pride themselves on "diversity" and love to brag about it in newsletters and liberal alumni love it as well, so it pays to have a decent minority pool
[3] b/c AA is alive and well in law firm hiring practices (see "Diversity Committee") it pays to have a large minority pool who will get jobs over other competitive candidates from other schools
Not only do all of the above play into the "progressive liberal" agenda that dominates law school, but it also relates heavily to alumni/law firm giving. A low diversity score will make you a pariah among your competitors, so you better keep it up or else.
206, I'm laughing in your face right now..... it's "woe is me"
whoa there.
hilarious.
214, funny how "get over it and get better grades next time" doesn't seem to apply to blacks who can't get into schools without the affirmative action boost from the color of their skin.
While I find most of this "whoa is me " white folk banter to be amusing...174 Let's get some things straight. The majority of Northern schools were (de facto) segregated and continue to be to this day. IN FACT, Northern schools tend to be more segregated than schools in the South. ESPECIALLY, in the Midwest.
Also, I love how since Barack is the President (elect), magically racism does not exist. Gee, let me count how many times I've been profiled for being in the "wrong neighborhood".
162 - comments generate more page hits = more revenue for the blog = not useless
214:
So....just because an injustice isn't happening to you means you shouldn't be bothered by it? I'm white, at a T-5 school with V10 offer. No, I don't feel like I have been screwed over particularly b/c I have been successful. But just because I was able to overcome it does not mean that I cannot feel empathy and be outraged at how others are treated in the racist AA system.
This is pathetic. The only reason those niggers can afford law school is because of my tax dollars.
Whoa is me, I never learned proper English but was handed admission to a top law school.
Elie, delete post 223
This whole thing is a non-issue. I can't think of anyone at UChicago who actually cares. Our Dean of Students has a habit of writing emails to the whole student body over very minor issues. Way to go on the great journalism Elie.
http://mmcisaac.faculty.asu.edu/emc598ge/Unpacking.html#daily
Maybe the "whoa is me" character was just referring to how white people are often surprised to find themselves in existence.
It's a combination of Descartes and Keanu Reeves.
The modern-day philosopher had to post three times too.
228 you are an asshole and make anyone who comments on this board look like an asshole. Using the anonymity of these comments to say that is no better than wearing a hood and sheets. Shame on you.
230 - its combination of Descartes, Joey Lawrence and a lack of an education.
196 - So a firm came to school and only wanted to interview black people. Nice.
160 - Yeah, I can't blame individuals for accepting the unfair advantages that are offered to them. Yeah, if the shoe were on the other foot, I might do the same. But that does not mean that we cannot say that the system that offers those advantages is unfair and should be disbanded.
wow, there are a lot of "n-bombs" being dropped.
keyboard courage?
to 207 (and 208) - Bullshit. There are a lot of white people in law school that went to shitty schools. And they made it without AA.
Two things I learned from ConLaw:
1) Hate speech is free speech, my fellow hebrews and shebrews; and
2) being black gives you the right to get into UC with a 163 and then bar whiteys with 173s from free lunch and amusements.
235 go back and read the comment.
Shove it 231, I actually have a robe now. We are past the sheets.
236-
Shhhhhhh! The thought-police might hear you!
Sometimes I sit near the BLSA lounge at school and hope that some ideas will slip underneath the door and enter my marketplace.
you're a fucking idiot, elie. even i, off the top of my head, know that the dean of the university of chicago law school is saul levmore.
don't you ever check your god damn facts you god damn fat ass?
Elie, delete your own post.
207 -
K-12 tutoring? Really? Who the hell---black or white---pays for tutoring for their 6 year old? If you think this is how most whites were raised, you've been misinformed.
Wow, this thread has really brought out the ugly. There is already an XOXOXO, Lat. If you let this blog settle into this market with unmoderated and anonymous threads, you're going to lose a lot of the readers that read this from the beginning.
BLSA can exclude anyone they want as long as they keep providing me with outlines.
"Apparently some members of the Black Law Students Association at the University of Chicago Law School need a refresher in Constitutional Law. "
or maybe the school will never let them take ConLaw...
to 205 et al:
No TTT school would do that unless person B had more to offer than Person A borderline LSAT and a lack of cultural perspective.
In economic terms, on average the marginal benefit is higher when you admit a minority student with median range LSAT scores than when you admit a white person in the same range.
In layman terms, why add another average white person to the room when you can get some color with no loss in ability. Ivy league schools could fill up with elite high school grads, but why? Eventually, there is no value added by each additional admission. Trust me, if it didn't make sense, schools would have stopped it along time ago.
Claims of reverse discrimination are from an inflated sense of self worth.
there are only 3 offers that should be revoked:
1. David Lat's offer to Elie to write for ATL.
2. HLS's offer to Elie to attend
3. Elie's mom to his dad
In other news, the Law School announced yesterday (one day of the events of Tuesday described above) that it has decided to cap enrollment in the Constitutional Law class entitled "Equal Protection & Due Process," thereby disenrolling 83 students, who are clearly in need of Constitutional law education, out of the class.
In other news, the Law School announced yesterday (one day of the events of Tuesday described above) that it has decided to cap enrollment in the Constitutional Law class entitled "Equal Protection & Due Process," thereby disenrolling 83 students, who are clearly in need of Constitutional law education, out of the class.
In other news, the Law School announced yesterday (one day of the events of Tuesday described above) that it has decided to cap enrollment in the Constitutional Law class entitled "Equal Protection & Due Process," thereby disenrolling 83 students, who are clearly in need of Constitutional law education, out of the class.
Worst. Comment. Thread. Ever.
I make silly racist comments to my minority friends and they return the favor, my usual name is whitey. We're friends, it's funny, but if someone passing by heard us and didn't understand they might be offended. Possibly some uptight student heard a comment between friends here and got all upset, or possibly the speaker really is a racist. The point is, we have absolutely no idea.
The take-away is that Elie is an idiot for posting a vague story like this, knowing it would just attract a bunch of race-baiting internet cowards hiding behind their keyboards.
Hey Lat, you need to do more micro-managing here.
In other news, the Law School announced yesterday (one day of the events of Tuesday described above) that it has decided to cap enrollment in the Constitutional Law class entitled "Equal Protection & Due Process," thereby disenrolling 83 students, who are clearly in need of Constitutional law education, out of the class.
this isn't the definition of "racial profiling," you moron
there are no racial inequalities anymore. well, perhaps towards poor white folk. my god, we just elected a black president. THERE IS NO GLASS CEILING ANYMORE. THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IS BLACK. HOW CAN THERE BE RACISM WHEN WE ELECTED A BLACK MAN PRESIDENT. absurd.
I don't get how people are defending this by claiming that it was sponsored by a firm. The event made free use of the law school's space and publicity channels. It presumably was paid for at least in part with funds from the student body. And it was advertised as sanctioned and sponsored by BLSA, which is nothing more than a body of the law school.
Regardless of whether it was "blacks only," "blacks and BLSA members only," or "BLSA members only," it clearly violated the rules that student organizations at Chicago accept. The message was clearly sent that only people of a certain skin color or attitude were welcome.
As the (former) president of the group has admitted, the actions of the group were clearly unacceptable. He's apologized and stepped down. I'm not sure why some feel the need to contradict his confession and defend his actions.
240 you dipshit, tutoring by the parents. Help with the homework, double checking of the math sheets. I know that you are such a genius that you did your homework yourself and never needed help, but this post is not about you.
244 is the smartest person on this post, not kidding.
244 - That's ridiculous. Average black LSAT scores are more than a standard deviation lower than white scores. Perhaps at Yale there is no discernible dropoff because there are a select few blacks with very high LSAT scores. But at schools like Penn, NYU, UMich and similar schools, the dropoff is staggering because the white LSAT scores at those schools aren't that much lower than at Yale, but the black LSAT scores aren't even in the same ballpark. That is textbook reverse discrimination. End of story.
If affirmative action is justified at all it should be based on the economic conditions the applicant grew up in. Race should not be a factor. Most minority students at top law schools come from well to do families. Most of these students have had the benefit of excellent schools, private tutoring, etc. . . I see no reason to reward them merely because they are a member of a particular ethnic group. Combining lower admission standards and the desire to "sacrifice" the least regarding student body statistics, leads to admission of primarily minorities who scored better than their peers being admitted. The minorities who score better than their peers are generally those who have had the benefit of tutoring and quality educations. In reality, the current AA system merely rewards people who belong to particular ethnic groups and have substantial economic resources. Current AA policies perversely exclude lower economic status minorities which furthers the wealth gap between poor and wealthy minorities.
It is foolish to think a minority student from a rich family who scores a 160 is as qualified as a white student from a poor family who manages to score a 170. I see the most sense and merit in a system which rewards performance rather than race, but if AA is to continue, it must be shifted to account for economic status.
86, your major premise is off. Likely none of these students is "smart enough" to get into Chicago other than with massive affirmative action assistance. Coupled with "blacks only" dorms in undergrad, a constant anti-white message in the culture, and the coddling of administrators, none of this arrogance should be a surprise. Anti-white has been in among elites since the Sixties.
86, your major premise is off. Likely none of these students is "smart enough" to get into Chicago other than with massive affirmative action assistance. Coupled with "blacks only" dorms in undergrad, a constant anti-white message in the culture, and the coddling of administrators, none of this arrogance should be a surprise. Anti-white has been in among elites since the Sixties.
to 256:
economic status would be good, but not better and also imperfect. The short version is medicare/medicaid where people dump assets to qualify. For a younger beneficiary, this would provide seriously perverse incentives.
if AA is to compensate for starting position, and race was the only thing really codified into law and socialized into our common belief system, race is an appropriate basis.
It is okay to exclude subsequent immigrants b/c they came into the system knowingly and willingly, taking America for its benefits and costs.
As far as winners and losers are concerned, a wealthy black kid with a 160 doesn't beat out are hurt any white kids over 165 maybe. On the other hand, that wealthy black kid will take spots from poor black kids with a 160 b/c white people find the rich kid acceptable.
you'll find that at top law schools, and law firms, there are farm more white people getting things handed to them (basic neoptism) and who have gotten to where they are though unqualified than blacks. that's how the world works. affirmative action is just the ways of the world put into policy. i'm a white man, by the way. white people on this board who display utter ignorance, let's get it together!!!!!
white people, come on!
#244 is DEF right. and #257, you shouldn't exist. you disgust me. you disgust me.
ABOVE THE LAW:
Reminding black people everywhere that there are still some seriously racist Mother F****** out there!
After reading these comments all I can say is: Whoa is me!
woe is me
This site is absolutely ridiculous! This whole story is blown out of proportion. I was at the meeting and am white. I didn't hear anything discriminatory nor did I feel uncomfortable. The person in charge said we were more than welcome to stay. Apparently, it was hosted by a law firm (who I believe provided for the food) that wanted to meet "diversity candidates". The name of the meeting created confusion, I thought it was going to be about advice on getting 1L jobs, so I left after realizing it wasn't about that. No big deal. People are just trying to make something out of nothing for who knows what reason.
(blah blah blah...)
What would happen if there was a: "University of Chicago WHITE Law Students Association"?
AND what if said "White Law Students Association" refused to allow black students to attend a public forum they held?
hmmm? just wonderin'...
mcdonalds
The Irish and the Italians had a long history of oppression it was no big deal.
The Irish and the Italians (and the Chinese for that matter) had a "long history of oppression" in America, it was no big deal.
Would that be like the Irish-American Bar, or the Italian American Bar, or Polich American Bar, etc.
This event was not an event financed by the public. It was financed by the firm Goldberg Kohn. It was an event exclusively for its members. It's no different than if the Federalist Society had Baker Botts sponsor a pre-finals lunch for its members. If food and space are limited, a student group is permitted to strict the food and space to its members, especially if private funds are used to finance the lunch.
This event was not an event financed by the public. It was financed by the firm Goldberg Kohn. It was an event exclusively for its members. It's no different than if the Federalist Society had Baker Botts sponsor a pre-finals lunch for its members. If food and space are limited, a student group is permitted to strict the food and space to its members, especially if private funds are used to finance the lunch.
This event was not an event financed by the public. It was financed by the firm Goldberg Kohn. It was an event exclusively for its members. It's no different than if the Federalist Society had Baker Botts sponsor a pre-finals lunch for its members. If food and space are limited, a student group is permitted to strict the food and space to its members, especially if private funds are used to finance the lunch.
This event was not an event financed by the public. It was financed by the firm Goldberg Kohn. It was an event exclusively for its members. It's no different than if the Federalist Society had Baker Botts sponsor a pre-finals lunch for its members. If food and space are limited, a student group is permitted to strict the food and space to its members, especially if private funds are used to finance the lunch.