January 31, 2003

When Women's Colleges Sell Diversity, It's a Con

By PETER WOOD

In December the Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases that may lead to a landmark ruling on "diversity." At issue is whether colleges and universities, by citing the need to achieve "diverse" enrollments, can justify otherwise illegal racial preferences in their admissions decisions. Thus diversity -- part cultural ideal, part legal dodge -- is back in the spotlight. Supporters of using diversity to justify special preferences for minority students extol the educational benefits of

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