The College Fix

University of North Carolina junior Ishmael Bishop has some … interesting views on what a college experience should be all about.

After invoking the legacy of American slavery and the fact that UNC has been open to African-Americans only since 1955, Bishop bemoans that, despite the college promising him “a fair and holistic education upon enrollment,” he is “surrounded by systems of support that do not actually guarantee [his] academic success.”

He writes in The Daily Tar Heel:

Due to racist prerequisites, some students of color or low socioeconomic status are excluded from pursuing certain majors. In eight semesters, it is nearly impossible to graduate with a bachelors of science in a STEM field if you must first complete a course in “College Algebra.” Most students who place out of this prerequisite can either afford the SAT Subject Tests or have access to a school with an adequate teaching staff for teaching Advancement Placement courses.

“Separate but equal” is an absurd justification for segregation based on race, so why do we condone such exclusively unequal opportunities? Any student graduating from an accredited N.C. high school should be able to complete any course of study that results in a degree.

To address issues of academic preparedness and encourage the pursuit of STEM degrees, the University should increase the availability of tutors and open up sustainable lines of communication between students and professor. This should go beyond peer tutoring or meeting with a professor for sometimes inconvenient office hours.

Black students are on this campus and will prosper. If this means intervention from the courts, we have our lawyers; if it means calling upon the President to allow us access to our educational birthright, we have the National Guard. Most of all, we have our voices and we will be heard.

Wait — you mean not every college student graduates after eight semesters? Students must show competence in a certain subject before continuing in a specific program?

Who’da thought?

To be sure, Bishop addresses lower education “inequities,” especially funding, as a major contributing factor to his complaints. However, I would suggest he take a look at the Cato Institute’s study regarding Kansas City. In a nutshell, it notes

For decades critics of the public schools have been saying, “You can’t solve educational problems by throwing money at them.” The education establishment and its supporters have replied, “No one’s ever tried.” In Kansas City they did try.

And it failed. Dismally.

Lastly, I would suggest to Mr. Bishop that nothing guarantees success in life, academic or otherwise.

Good luck to you, sir.

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