I am disillusioned. If an illusion is a “false or misleading impression of reality,” then it should be good to be rid of illusions. Right? Yet I am so passionate about justice and fairness and equity that I cannot, I will not, let go. I recognize justice and fairness and equity as illusions, but I refuse to excuse anyone, (especially myself), from working toward the Ideal. When injustice and unfairness and inequity come to light amongst those with privilege, to not work with urgency toward resolution is commonplace; which is why these principles remain an illusion. But when injustice and unfairness and inequity come to light amongst those who profess an allegiance to these principles, (or to related principles such as diversity and holistic review and so-called inclusion), to not work with urgency toward resolution is perhaps the most egregious negligence possible. The challenge comes when those with privilege also profess allegiance.
Week before last some improprieties involving a college admissions process came to light. There is considerable concern, and there are reports that reviews are being conducted, and some obvious low-hanging fruit is being harvested; but for the most part it appears that the activity surrounding the alleged abuses of power are largely focused on scrambling to contain the fallout. I see no evidence of forceful in-depth investigation. Nor do I see any urgency in efforts to improve process or to fill the opportunistic holes exposed by this wrongdoing. What I see are promises and reassurances that I interpret as, “give us time and we are confident that your short attention span will soon perceive a newer miscarriage as bigger and more important.” The most common defense seems to be that the reported misconduct is the exception and not the rule, which leads to administrators claiming victimization, which in turn becomes the reason (or excuse) for inaction, because, after all, as a victim, what could we have done? (All this from individuals who claim an allegiance to justice and fairness and equity.) What happened to checks and balances!? I cannot believe that no one was responsible for ensuring the integrity of the process. You are not a victim! You created and/or ignored the opportunistic holes! You allowed the injustice! You are responsible! Own it!
This is not an either/or outlaw/victim scenario. There are gradations of culpability here, and especially in this Era of Data, there is no excuse for not managing the process. Each step of an admissions process should be clearly defined, measured and verified. And the subjective criteria must also be clearly and extensively defined using precise, consistent words that, with practice, will not only enable an evaluator to evaluate with confidence, but will also create a consistency across the span of evaluators and admissions cycles. Loosely-defined, vague and general statements proposing a holistic selection based on character traits such as courage and likability, without clearly defining courage and likability, is why Harvard has a lawsuit. And it is this same sentiment of pretentious invulnerability that opened the door for the recent admissions misdeeds.
We are so busy congratulating ourselves for upholding these (loosely-defined) virtuous principles, that we do not realize we have crossed back to a perspective that reeks of privilege. Vague and General = Superficial. Superficial = Justifiable Apathy and/or Ignorance. Justifiable Apathy and/or Ignorance = A Path to Righteous Malfeasance. And this Path to Righteous Malfeasance winds through the opportunistic holes we now see in our admissions process.
I read a quote on Monday of this week, from NBC News lamenting “the power to provide a list of students …without anyone second guessing their choices.” I might argue that no one should be “second-guessing” but some one (or ones) should be verifying. Power = Privilege. And someone responsible has allowed unchecked power to filter into daily operations.
I suppose I should not be surprised by the superficial response. Based on the lack of responsibility that created these privileged opportunities, it should have been obvious that those in power would continue to react from on high; unwilling to burden their minds with contingencies or dirty their hands with detail. I have heard that in some circles, ignorance is no excuse. It seems to me that ignorance should be even less of an excuse in our hallowed halls of higher education.
We have to be better. If administrators are unwilling, we need new administrators; or at the least we need some additional administrators. Perhaps this challenge is (in part) brought about due to budget constraints and our efforts to reduce layers of management. Perhaps we have created a gap, (much like the widening wealth gap), that has eliminated mechanisms / processes for higher level thought to be effectively applied to daily operations. Perhaps the unwillingness exhibited by the powers-that-be is to some degree a legitimate occupation with higher level thought as it must be applied to the big picture. And perhaps this, combined with the nature of privilege and power, leaves us with a ruling class incapable of detail. This is no excuse! We cannot trust operational detail, that may produce even a small bit of ethical disunity, to a process that is untested (before the fact) or unverified (and/or) unverifiable (and/or) wildly inconsistent (after the fact). We have to find a way to fill the gap with capable process specialists who understand process integrity. If a budget prohibits this, then an administrator must take responsibility. If an administrator is too busy, then they must reprioritize. If an administrator is incapable, then they must be replaced. No excuses! The big picture means nothing if it is full of holes!
On Tuesday of this week I read that the Education Department has opened investigations into the college admissions scandal. Talk about another GIANT CHASM! Can you imagine this government and this department of education knowing what to look for much less understanding what they see much less really getting their hands dirty with detail. They are there to grandstand and suck blood. And it sounds like the most they can do is maybe withhold federal grants and loans. Sure! That'll show all those privileged rich folks who spent millions to keep their noxious kids inflated! To have the privileged investigating the privileged sounds like a high speed bullet train, on autopilot, being sent to investigate a train wreck. We are now surrounded by multiple layers of privilege actually believing they are upholding justice and fairness and equity, and not even remotely aware that their example of privilege contributed generously to the righteous malfeasance they are now allegedly investigating.
On Wednesday of this week, I read that the same secretary of education sucking blood in the previous paragraph, has cut the Special Olympics from her proposed budget. This repeated pattern of behavior is why it is so difficult for the downtrodden, the actual victims of injustice, to be heard; or seen. They are gently put in their place to be looked upon, (if they are looked upon at all), as objects of pity, while the privileged fight with the privileged to take center stage to promise and reassure and to contain the fallout, and ultimately to maintain status quo.
Go Team!
On Thursday of this week, I read that one of the noxious inflatables is saying she is the victim and blaming her rich and famous parents because her life is now a shambles. Though her cry for help should go unheeded, I am confident her privilege will keep her afloat. This is consistent with the reaction from college administrators. If you can't or won't be charged with a crime, yell at the top of your lungs that you have been victimized. My response to Miss little fled-hiding-good is Grow Up! Why did you choose to not burden your mind with the process and to not dirty your hands with the details? Take responsibility for ensuring the integrity of your own life! You are not a victim! You created and/or ignored the circumstance! You allowed the injustice! You are responsible! Own it!
There is an obvious lack of understanding. Perhaps a portion of the privileged are genuinely incapable of making connections. Perhaps it is a learned defense mechanism in place to protect their cocoon of privilege. Or perhaps it is an entrenched belief that someone so far beneath their privilege could not possibly add anything of value. I suspect all of these factors contribute to the lack of understanding to varying degrees. The privileged can say, “I was where you are,” or “I came from adversity,” but even if accurate, that is past tense. Where there is privilege, there will always be some desultory disregard, because the essence of privilege will always be oblivious both to itself and to injustice.
And from this oblivious privilege, (as it is seated in gloppy government, strolling through hallowed halls, and peering around nearby corners), comes this painful mix of anger and sadness, and disillusionment and disbelief.
Yet still, I refuse to excuse anyone, (especially myself), from working toward the Ideal. I have no choice but to absorb the pain and continue to act.
And it is a privilege to be able to do so…