No Mercy / No Malice: More

Affirmative Action

The controversy surrounding affirmative action in college admissions has been reignited by a recent Supreme Court decision. Scott Galloway highlights that while affirmative action has historically increased diversity in elite institutions, the focus should shift from race to socioeconomic status. He argues that family income is a more significant determinant of success than race, as "reshuffling elites by race is still elitism" 1. Galloway points out that 74% of Americans oppose race-based admissions, suggesting a preference for class-based preferences that do not consider race 1.

   

Cost & Access

Financial barriers remain a significant hurdle in accessing higher education. Galloway notes that students from wealthy families are disproportionately represented in elite colleges, with those from the top 0.1% income bracket being 80 times more likely to gain admission than those from the bottom fifth 2. He suggests that the focus should be on increasing the number of students admitted, rather than dividing them by race or income. "The question facing American higher education is not who, it's how many," he asserts 2.

   

Reform Proposals

Galloway proposes several reforms to make higher education more accessible and affordable. He suggests that the federal government should invest in public universities to reduce tuition and expand enrollments, arguing that "something with a $500 billion price tag should be for an investment in the future of the country" 2. Additionally, he advocates for increasing vocational programs and holding universities accountable for student loan defaults, which would "force colleges to either improve the ROI of an education or stop loaning $200,000 to kids they know will struggle to pay it back" 3.