Much of the future of affirmative action depends, in other words, on whether or not diversity really does make a difference in educational experiences, they conclude. Even this, though, is not so clear. Racial and ethnic diversity by no means guarantees intellectual diversity. It doesn t even ensure diversity of backgrounds. There are lots of black people who don t have radically different experiences from middle class whites, explained Clegg.
Whites are anything but united in political and life philosophies on campus.
That is really all beside the point, though. The answer, unquestionably, is no. The purpose of higher education is the quest for truth on one hand, and the quest for the tools to pursue a desired career on the other. This requires academic freedom and intellectual diversity. It requires that those not academically qualified for a given institution not be granted admission at the expense of individuals from what has become a disfavored group.