Multiple Indiana University deans released statements Tuesday applauding the murder conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. In the statements, university faculty members recognized and committed to fighting anti-Asian hate and any forms of “discrimination” on IU’s campus. The statements made no mention, however, of examining many of the university’s affirmative action programs that discriminate against applicants and students that the university doesn’t consider to be from “historically underrepresented” groups. Such programs largely disadvantage Asian and White students, applicants, and employees.
A statement from Idalene Kesner, dean of the Kelley School of Business, began by referencing the killing of George Floyd and the conviction of Derek Chauvin. Kesner referred to the death of Floyd, a career criminal with a history of violent assaults and robberies who died in June while resisting arrest, a “tragedy” and indicative of “systemic racism” and the “brutality… to which Black men and women … are disproportionately subjected.” Kesner also referenced the horribly destructive and violent riots that have plagued the country since Floyd’s death, calling them “demonstrations in support of Black lives.”
Kesner went on to unenthusiastically applaud the murder conviction of Derek Chauvin, referring to it as “imperfect justice” and as a signal of “some accountability.” She further recognized that “there is more to be done” and that the verdict “does not erase the pain that accompanied George Floyd’s death.”
Kesner then emphasized that the Kelly School of Business is committed to fighting “systemic racism, bigotry, discrimination, marginalization, and all forms of oppression” and asked students to “stand in solidarity, opposing discrimination of any type.” As a supposed example of “systemic racism,” Kesner referenced the Atlanta shootings, which she said “deeply impacted Asian/Asian American[s]. Kesner concluded her message by saying that “we cannot accept as normal the systemic racism, violence, and oppression that have permeated our society.”
Other IU deans made similar statements, including Dean of Student Affairs Dave O’Guinn, who stated that “the IU community continues to process the emotions and stress surrounding the tragic murder of George Floyd” as “our nation grapples with … Anti-Asian violence.”
However, none of these statements made any reference to the many affirmative action policies IU has in place that actively discriminate against Asian-Americans. IU’s affirmative action policies affect nearly every aspect of the university, from hiring to admissions decisions. And, while the university pledges to “not discriminate,” policies that take “positive and extraordinary” steps to recruit and retain students and staff from “historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups,” as IU’s affirmative action policies do, are inherently discriminatory. A 2005 Princeton study, for example, demonstrated the adverse effects of affirmative action on White and Asian applicants to elite universities. The study found that African-American applicants effectively receive 230 extra SAT points, Hispanics receive an additional 185 points, and Asian-Americans effectively lose 50 points. This leads to a dramatic decrease in the number of Asian students accepted and a marginal decrease in the number of White students accepted.
In 2014, Students for Fair Admissions sued Harvard University for racial bias in their admissions practices, alleging that the university illegally discriminates against Asian applicants. In February, the group sued Yale for discriminating against White and Asian applicants. Students for Fair Admissions has also filed law suits against the University of North Carolina and the University of Texas.
Notably, these statements from IU deans came just before the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that denounces discrimination of Asian-Americans and strengthens federal efforts to address anti-Asian hate crimes. However, Senate Democrats voted down a measure that would have removed federal funding from colleges that use race as a factor in admissions decisions, effectively discriminating against Asian applicants.
It would appear then that the Senate, much like Indiana University, only cares about fighting discrimination when it serves their ends but has no interest in truly securing fair and equitable practices.