July 1, 2023 • 14 mins
In this episode I give my initial impressions on the recent SCOTUS decisions regarding race conscious admissions and student loan debt forgiveness. I set my sights on the responsibility of college and university leaders and what they can do to truly support low-income learners and learners of color. My Rant digs in to some of the hypocrisy that followed the SCOTUS decisions and some thoughts on how to move forward.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Eloy (00:09):
Hi, this is Elo Ortiz Oakley, and welcome back to the
Rant, the podcast where we pullback the curtain and break down
the people, the policies, andthe politics of our higher
education system.
In this episode, we're gonnaspend some time breaking down
the politics of highereducation.
I share my initial reactions tothe SCOTUS ruling on race
(00:30):
conscious admissions and studentloan debt relief.
Two topics that have dominatedmuch of the higher education
airspace for the last couple ofyears, and that's certainly been
true of my airspace.
And to give the appropriatedisclaimer to my listeners this
episode and my comments here arenot associated with my role
(00:51):
leading the College FuturesFoundation, but I'm sure many of
White Album about say does alignwith the way that they think
about this issue.
And a warning that some of whatI will say in this episode may
be upsetting to some of mylisteners, but hang in there
with me.
First, let me begin withaffirmative action or race
(01:11):
conscious admissions.
There is certainly plenty to beupset about regarding SCOTUS and
this decision.
Not the least of which is thereinforcing of privilege that
these justices will continue toallow through this ruling, and
also the complete disconnectbetween their own privileged
(01:32):
experience coming from highlyrejective outrageously expensive
law schools and that of the restof the country's experience in
higher education.
However, my main target today isnot scotus, but institutional
leaders, faculty leaders, andpolicymakers.
(01:53):
First, let me begin with collegeand university leaders.
I've seen a flood of statementsexpressing indignation.
They've surfaced at every cornerof higher education on social
media.
In my email.
Outrage and disappointment arewords that pop up most
frequently in those statements,so to the majority of those
(02:16):
leaders, I say to you, horsemanure, or in other words, BS.
If you are truly outraged.
Then drop the layers ofdiscriminatory practices that
your institutions continue tosupport and that impact
negatively impact low incomelearners and learners of color.
(02:40):
What am I talking about?
I'm talking about.
Ending the use of standardizedadmissions and placement tests
like the S A T A C T G R E andaccuplacer.
These tests do nothing more thandiscriminate against low income
learners and learners of color.
They have nothing to do withcollege preparation.
(03:01):
So if you're truly indignantabout the SCOTUS ruling and the
use of those practices, Stopwithholding the transcripts of
learners who can't pay theirparking tickets or library
fines, or other ridiculous feethat you charge the learner.
There's a reason why they can'tafford to pay them.
They are struggling to pay forthe cost, the total cost of
(03:24):
attending college, and it doesthem no good not to be able to
access their transcript becauseall that does is keep them from
earning more money.
So give them the opportunity tocontinue their learning, to
access the transcripts for theirlearning so that they can
continue to improve theireconomic wellbeing.
That, in turn, will allow themto pay for more of the
(03:45):
ridiculous fees that you chargethem.
Recruit and hire leaders ofcolor and leaders who come from
low income backgrounds.
These individuals with theirexperiences are best suited to
foster learners centeredpractices and better support
learners of diverse backgrounds,whether you're on the east
(04:07):
coast, the West coast, or middleAmerica.
Having individuals who come fromthose experiences will better
support learners of allbackgrounds.
Recruit, hire and supportfaculty of color.
Having faculty in the classroomthat truly represent the
diversity of our student bodieshelps our students see
(04:30):
themselves.
In the learning that they'reengaging with helps them see
themselves as part of the fabricof higher education and not as
an outsider.
So recruit higher and support,and with an emphasis on support
your faculty of color.
And then finally, it is amazingto me.
(04:52):
Institutions who continue tohave legacy admissions.
In some cases, 40 50% of theiradmits are legacy admissions.
It's amazing to me that theseindividuals who are showing
indignation over the SCOTUSruling actually can look at us
with a straight face.
this is extremely.
(05:12):
Extremely hypocritical.
So, and the use of legacyadmissions, especially at the
highly rejected universities andcolleges to my faculty leaders,
colleagues, in the classroom.
We need you to diversify yourleadership ranks.
There are plenty of faculty ofcolor and faculty from diverse
(05:35):
disciplines and graduateprograms that can provide unique
perspectives in those leadershipcircles, academic senates and
union leadership positions arepredominantly filled.
By white traditional facultyperspectives, and these
perspectives cannot or will notembrace the challenges that this
(05:55):
new generation of learners face.
So diversify your ranks,allowing faculty of color or
faculty that come from lowincome backgrounds to be part of
the practices that you foster tosupport diverse learners.
And my faculty colleagues, weneed you to embrace new pedagogy
(06:17):
and technology that learners aredemanding.
Very few low-income learners canafford a residential, college,
or university experience.
Most have to work and raisefamilies, so quit finding
excuses why it is too difficultto serve these learners and just
embrace them.
(06:37):
I have a suggestion to you forthose faculty who are at,
traditional colleges and fouryear universities, invite your
community college faculty tocome in and actually talk to you
about how to best serve diverselearners.
This is what community collegefaculty specialize in.
You wanna talk about learningloss?
(06:57):
Community college faculty facelearning loss every day in their
classroom, and they supportthose learners and get them
ready to go to a four yearuniversity.
That's what they did for me.
To my friends who arepolicymakers and other
institutional leaders, embracecommunity college transfer
students.
Here's a news flash folks.
(07:18):
Community college students arediverse.
How about that and why?
Because our community collegesaccept the top 100% of learners
in their communities, and theircommunities are typically
diverse.
So for your universities, if youtruly want and accept and
embrace a diverse student body,well guess what?
(07:38):
Here's an easy path to that.
Clarify and strengthen thetransfer pathways.
For learners that are comingfrom your community colleges.
Now lemme turn my attention tothe SCOTUS decision on student
loan debt forgiveness.
Once again, privilegedpolicymakers and policy wonks,
(07:59):
and there's plenty out there onsocial media right now are
debating what makes good policyand who should benefit from
government subsidies and alsowho should pay for all this
student loan debt.
Those that are already buriedwith the debt caused by the
failed higher education,finance, and accountability
policies that these individualspromulgated in years past.
(08:22):
Are not at the table and have nosay in this.
They're the ones straddled withthe debt.
They're the ones who are gonnahave a hard time building wealth
and passing on that wealth forgenerations to come.
Unlike the policymakers and thepolicy wonks who are having this
debate, and they failed torecognize how many government
subsidies they received, orinstitutional subsidies, or the
(08:47):
subsidies that their wealthyfamilies received.
To offset the cost of theireducation.
They quickly forget about all ofthat.
So let's not straddle this newgeneration of learner with debt
that will ensure that theirfamilies never build the kind of
wealth that we want for everyperson in this country.
(09:08):
This SCOTUS decision furthercripples the ability of low
income individuals and theirfamilies to build wealth.
So let's find a way to either.
Allow them to forgive the debtor give them an easier way to
discharge the debt becauseagain, this debt continues to
haunt them throughout theirlife.
I know personally, I've met manystudents, people in my family
(09:31):
who are carrying debt frominstitutions that promised them,
sold them on an opportunity toget a job in a certain field,
and that dream nevermaterialized, and now they're
struggling.
To figure out how to pay backthat debt with very low earnings
and no real way to pay that offanytime soon.
(09:52):
So let's stop straddling thisgeneration with the kind of debt
that will ensure that they andtheir families never get a
chance to achieve the Americandream and to institutions.
Institutions are by and largecomplicit in the student loan.
Debt problem along with federaland state policymakers, they
(10:14):
drive and fuel the rising costof education with federally
subsidized dollars that leavesthe middle class and low income
learners holding the bag.
Higher education leaders andadministrators and faculty pay
as well as their programscontinue to rise in cost.
They continue to see increasesand they try to pass this along
(10:36):
to the learner and then ask thefederal government or states to
help subsidize that.
That is absolutely the wrongdirection to go, and we should
no longer support and encouragethat kind of behavior.
It is no secret, folks, that thepush for doubling the Pell is
driven in part, not completely,but in part because of the greed
(10:58):
of institutions and not theconcern for the learner.
So the.
What do we do?
Where do we go from here?
First and foremost, electionsmatter.
This generation of learners andyoung people must organize,
vote, and demand accountabilityfrom lawmakers and college and
(11:19):
university leaders.
Vote both at the ballot box andwith your feet.
Reject institutions that ignorethe rising cost of education or
ignore the need to supportlearners or who.
Continue to use predatorymarketing practices to sell
learners a dream that they cannever fulfill.
(11:41):
Reject those institutions.
Go to institutions that open thedoor for you that have a primary
mission of making a collegeexperience a post-secondary
experience, affordable andreject siding with warr in
factions on campus, whether it'sfaculty or the administrators.
These squabbles rarely put thestudents at the center.
(12:05):
So don't side with eitherfaculty or administration side
with learners.
Organize yourselves and demandmore.
Hold states and institutionsaccountable for the total cost
of education.
It's insanity to think that wecan continue to turn to the
federal government to solveproblems that are the
(12:26):
responsibility of states andlocal governments and reward
leaders and institutions thatare truly making higher
education.
More accessible and moreaffordable.
And yes, there are severalinstitutions who are trying to
do this, who in their mission,in their DNA, want to increase
(12:46):
access.
Community colleges, four yearregional universities,
institutions that are dedicatedto low-income learners reward
them and begin to reject thoseinstitutions that only cater to
the wealthy and that continue tobe indignant over this ruling,
even though they fosterpractices that make it harder
(13:07):
and harder for low incomelearners and learners of color
to succeed.
So, that's it for today.
I'm running outta breath, so I'mgonna end this rant.
I thank you for joining me onthe rant.
If you enjoyed this episode, hitthe like button.
Subscribe to the YouTubechannel.
Follow us on your favoritepodcast platform.
(13:28):
I'm gonna have some specialguests in the next episode to
talk more about the raceconscious, admissions ruling
from scotus, particularly from aCalifornia, and specifically
from a University of Californiapoint of view.
Why?
Because a lot of people in thiscountry are pointing to
California, and yes, as aCalifornian, I lived through
Prop 2 0 9.
(13:49):
I have lived through raceconscious admissions, both as an
administrator and as a member ofthe Board of Regions for the
University of California.
So a lot of point people arepointing to the University of
California is an example of whatcan happen going forward.
And so my guests will talk aboutwhat actually has happened.
What can happen?
(14:09):
What are some of the successes,but also what are some of the
catastrophic failures of whathappened when we disallowed race
and ethnicity and admissions inCalifornia?
And I will say this, what weshould expect for this country
based on SCOTUS decision andbased on California's
experience, is this is gonnahave a devastating impact on
(14:33):
black learners.
Because that's what happened inCalifornia.
So stay tuned to the nextepisode, and I'll see you all
soon.
Hi, this is Elo Ortiz Oakley, and welcome back to the
Rant, the podcast where we pullback the curtain and break down
the people, the policies, andthe politics of our higher
education system.
In this episode, we're gonnaspend some time breaking down
the politics of highereducation.
I share my initial reactions tothe SCOTUS ruling on race
(00:30):
conscious admissions and studentloan debt relief.
Two topics that have dominatedmuch of the higher education
airspace for the last couple ofyears, and that's certainly been
true of my airspace.
And to give the appropriatedisclaimer to my listeners this
episode and my comments here arenot associated with my role
(00:51):
leading the College FuturesFoundation, but I'm sure many of
White Album about say does alignwith the way that they think
about this issue.
And a warning that some of whatI will say in this episode may
be upsetting to some of mylisteners, but hang in there
with me.
First, let me begin withaffirmative action or race
(01:11):
conscious admissions.
There is certainly plenty to beupset about regarding SCOTUS and
this decision.
Not the least of which is thereinforcing of privilege that
these justices will continue toallow through this ruling, and
also the complete disconnectbetween their own privileged
(01:32):
experience coming from highlyrejective outrageously expensive
law schools and that of the restof the country's experience in
higher education.
However, my main target today isnot scotus, but institutional
leaders, faculty leaders, andpolicymakers.
(01:53):
First, let me begin with collegeand university leaders.
I've seen a flood of statementsexpressing indignation.
They've surfaced at every cornerof higher education on social
media.
In my email.
Outrage and disappointment arewords that pop up most
frequently in those statements,so to the majority of those
(02:16):
leaders, I say to you, horsemanure, or in other words, BS.
If you are truly outraged.
Then drop the layers ofdiscriminatory practices that
your institutions continue tosupport and that impact
negatively impact low incomelearners and learners of color.
(02:40):
What am I talking about?
I'm talking about.
Ending the use of standardizedadmissions and placement tests
like the S A T A C T G R E andaccuplacer.
These tests do nothing more thandiscriminate against low income
learners and learners of color.
They have nothing to do withcollege preparation.
(03:01):
So if you're truly indignantabout the SCOTUS ruling and the
use of those practices, Stopwithholding the transcripts of
learners who can't pay theirparking tickets or library
fines, or other ridiculous feethat you charge the learner.
There's a reason why they can'tafford to pay them.
They are struggling to pay forthe cost, the total cost of
(03:24):
attending college, and it doesthem no good not to be able to
access their transcript becauseall that does is keep them from
earning more money.
So give them the opportunity tocontinue their learning, to
access the transcripts for theirlearning so that they can
continue to improve theireconomic wellbeing.
That, in turn, will allow themto pay for more of the
(03:45):
ridiculous fees that you chargethem.
Recruit and hire leaders ofcolor and leaders who come from
low income backgrounds.
These individuals with theirexperiences are best suited to
foster learners centeredpractices and better support
learners of diverse backgrounds,whether you're on the east
(04:07):
coast, the West coast, or middleAmerica.
Having individuals who come fromthose experiences will better
support learners of allbackgrounds.
Recruit, hire and supportfaculty of color.
Having faculty in the classroomthat truly represent the
diversity of our student bodieshelps our students see
(04:30):
themselves.
In the learning that they'reengaging with helps them see
themselves as part of the fabricof higher education and not as
an outsider.
So recruit higher and support,and with an emphasis on support
your faculty of color.
And then finally, it is amazingto me.
(04:52):
Institutions who continue tohave legacy admissions.
In some cases, 40 50% of theiradmits are legacy admissions.
It's amazing to me that theseindividuals who are showing
indignation over the SCOTUSruling actually can look at us
with a straight face.
this is extremely.
(05:12):
Extremely hypocritical.
So, and the use of legacyadmissions, especially at the
highly rejected universities andcolleges to my faculty leaders,
colleagues, in the classroom.
We need you to diversify yourleadership ranks.
There are plenty of faculty ofcolor and faculty from diverse
(05:35):
disciplines and graduateprograms that can provide unique
perspectives in those leadershipcircles, academic senates and
union leadership positions arepredominantly filled.
By white traditional facultyperspectives, and these
perspectives cannot or will notembrace the challenges that this
(05:55):
new generation of learners face.
So diversify your ranks,allowing faculty of color or
faculty that come from lowincome backgrounds to be part of
the practices that you foster tosupport diverse learners.
And my faculty colleagues, weneed you to embrace new pedagogy
(06:17):
and technology that learners aredemanding.
Very few low-income learners canafford a residential, college,
or university experience.
Most have to work and raisefamilies, so quit finding
excuses why it is too difficultto serve these learners and just
embrace them.
(06:37):
I have a suggestion to you forthose faculty who are at,
traditional colleges and fouryear universities, invite your
community college faculty tocome in and actually talk to you
about how to best serve diverselearners.
This is what community collegefaculty specialize in.
You wanna talk about learningloss?
(06:57):
Community college faculty facelearning loss every day in their
classroom, and they supportthose learners and get them
ready to go to a four yearuniversity.
That's what they did for me.
To my friends who arepolicymakers and other
institutional leaders, embracecommunity college transfer
students.
Here's a news flash folks.
(07:18):
Community college students arediverse.
How about that and why?
Because our community collegesaccept the top 100% of learners
in their communities, and theircommunities are typically
diverse.
So for your universities, if youtruly want and accept and
embrace a diverse student body,well guess what?
(07:38):
Here's an easy path to that.
Clarify and strengthen thetransfer pathways.
For learners that are comingfrom your community colleges.
Now lemme turn my attention tothe SCOTUS decision on student
loan debt forgiveness.
Once again, privilegedpolicymakers and policy wonks,
(07:59):
and there's plenty out there onsocial media right now are
debating what makes good policyand who should benefit from
government subsidies and alsowho should pay for all this
student loan debt.
Those that are already buriedwith the debt caused by the
failed higher education,finance, and accountability
policies that these individualspromulgated in years past.
(08:22):
Are not at the table and have nosay in this.
They're the ones straddled withthe debt.
They're the ones who are gonnahave a hard time building wealth
and passing on that wealth forgenerations to come.
Unlike the policymakers and thepolicy wonks who are having this
debate, and they failed torecognize how many government
subsidies they received, orinstitutional subsidies, or the
(08:47):
subsidies that their wealthyfamilies received.
To offset the cost of theireducation.
They quickly forget about all ofthat.
So let's not straddle this newgeneration of learner with debt
that will ensure that theirfamilies never build the kind of
wealth that we want for everyperson in this country.
(09:08):
This SCOTUS decision furthercripples the ability of low
income individuals and theirfamilies to build wealth.
So let's find a way to either.
Allow them to forgive the debtor give them an easier way to
discharge the debt becauseagain, this debt continues to
haunt them throughout theirlife.
I know personally, I've met manystudents, people in my family
(09:31):
who are carrying debt frominstitutions that promised them,
sold them on an opportunity toget a job in a certain field,
and that dream nevermaterialized, and now they're
struggling.
To figure out how to pay backthat debt with very low earnings
and no real way to pay that offanytime soon.
(09:52):
So let's stop straddling thisgeneration with the kind of debt
that will ensure that they andtheir families never get a
chance to achieve the Americandream and to institutions.
Institutions are by and largecomplicit in the student loan.
Debt problem along with federaland state policymakers, they
(10:14):
drive and fuel the rising costof education with federally
subsidized dollars that leavesthe middle class and low income
learners holding the bag.
Higher education leaders andadministrators and faculty pay
as well as their programscontinue to rise in cost.
They continue to see increasesand they try to pass this along
(10:36):
to the learner and then ask thefederal government or states to
help subsidize that.
That is absolutely the wrongdirection to go, and we should
no longer support and encouragethat kind of behavior.
It is no secret, folks, that thepush for doubling the Pell is
driven in part, not completely,but in part because of the greed
(10:58):
of institutions and not theconcern for the learner.
So the.
What do we do?
Where do we go from here?
First and foremost, electionsmatter.
This generation of learners andyoung people must organize,
vote, and demand accountabilityfrom lawmakers and college and
(11:19):
university leaders.
Vote both at the ballot box andwith your feet.
Reject institutions that ignorethe rising cost of education or
ignore the need to supportlearners or who.
Continue to use predatorymarketing practices to sell
learners a dream that they cannever fulfill.
(11:41):
Reject those institutions.
Go to institutions that open thedoor for you that have a primary
mission of making a collegeexperience a post-secondary
experience, affordable andreject siding with warr in
factions on campus, whether it'sfaculty or the administrators.
These squabbles rarely put thestudents at the center.
(12:05):
So don't side with eitherfaculty or administration side
with learners.
Organize yourselves and demandmore.
Hold states and institutionsaccountable for the total cost
of education.
It's insanity to think that wecan continue to turn to the
federal government to solveproblems that are the
(12:26):
responsibility of states andlocal governments and reward
leaders and institutions thatare truly making higher
education.
More accessible and moreaffordable.
And yes, there are severalinstitutions who are trying to
do this, who in their mission,in their DNA, want to increase
(12:46):
access.
Community colleges, four yearregional universities,
institutions that are dedicatedto low-income learners reward
them and begin to reject thoseinstitutions that only cater to
the wealthy and that continue tobe indignant over this ruling,
even though they fosterpractices that make it harder
(13:07):
and harder for low incomelearners and learners of color
to succeed.
So, that's it for today.
I'm running outta breath, so I'mgonna end this rant.
I thank you for joining me onthe rant.
If you enjoyed this episode, hitthe like button.
Subscribe to the YouTubechannel.
Follow us on your favoritepodcast platform.
(13:28):
I'm gonna have some specialguests in the next episode to
talk more about the raceconscious, admissions ruling
from scotus, particularly from aCalifornia, and specifically
from a University of Californiapoint of view.
Why?
Because a lot of people in thiscountry are pointing to
California, and yes, as aCalifornian, I lived through
Prop 2 0 9.
(13:49):
I have lived through raceconscious admissions, both as an
administrator and as a member ofthe Board of Regions for the
University of California.
So a lot of point people arepointing to the University of
California is an example of whatcan happen going forward.
And so my guests will talk aboutwhat actually has happened.
What can happen?
(14:09):
What are some of the successes,but also what are some of the
catastrophic failures of whathappened when we disallowed race
and ethnicity and admissions inCalifornia?
And I will say this, what weshould expect for this country
based on SCOTUS decision andbased on California's
experience, is this is gonnahave a devastating impact on
(14:33):
black learners.
Because that's what happened inCalifornia.
So stay tuned to the nextepisode, and I'll see you all
soon.
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