Is tolerance intolerant?

[bennyboy]

It's not only about specific, quantifiable criteria, and never has been only about that. A good part of the admission process is, and should be, subjective and ideally individualized.

You have two choices. Quantify criteria, or allow judges to arbitrate. If fairness of the system is in question due to bias of arbitrators, then you should want to remove the effects of arbitration.

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Look at the stats, acknowledge the inequality that is observed and be honest about what the factors are that are leading to this, then address accordingly.

I'm sorry, dude, I've got to call bullshit at this point. If you yourself, someone who clearly has a deep vested interest in selection being done in a particular way, cannot describe the method of selection more precisely than "address accordingly," then you have no right to criticize those who are currently entrusted with selection.

Either arbitrators have clear-cut guidelines, or they will select applicants according to their own bias (read: prejudices).

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Maybe by not making it only about scores/grades, and by understanding that SAT scores specifically tend to indicate privilege rather than aptitude when it comes to black vs. white groups. How about making sure admissions tests are as culture-fair as possible first?

Culture-fair, as in not accepting grades, IQ tests, SAT tests? You know that we're talking about a place of higher learning, right?

What methods would you use to indicate "aptitude rather than privilege," if not testing? What could possibly be more fair than having all applicants do the exact same test? Do we really want surgeons or engineers who are appointed based on a general sense of cultural fairness and balance? Or do we want the smartest mother-fuckers who step up to the table? You'd better have a pretty compelling method of demonstrating that "culture-fair" isn't just a euphemism for "not that smart, but who are we to tell him he can't be a doctor if he wants to?"