Selecting the Best Freshman Class

Published online July 6, 2017

My compliments to Alis Yoo ’19 and Nicholas Wu ’18 on their thoughtful commentary (Inbox, May 17). Is it affirmative action, diversity, or social engineering, or is it a convenient multiple-choice word game for any agreeing or opposing group when the issue is raised? I am suspicious of any University policy when undefined phrases such as human equality, people of color, and fairness are used to justify policymaking decisions.

As stated in earlier commentary, I am 100 percent in favor of equality of opportunity and unalterably opposed to equality of results. The administration believes that diversity is the correct path to take and will enhance the educational experience for all at my alma mater, the inference being that all who came before found something missing in their experience at Princeton. Everything that I experienced during my four years was enhancing, no matter the lesson itself. My life has been filled with a diversity of wonderful experiences that are part of a lifetime of learning. I am still learning.

It is important for Princeton University and the trustees to clearly define all of the qualifications, overt and covert, for admission and to apply them equally or unequally without fear or favor. I believe that admitting those who are best qualified and have met the University’s criteria for admission should be offered a place in the next freshman class. This will produce the better result.