Are Racial Preferences in Faculty Hiring the Next to Go?
The first and last time that I was asked to make a nonmerit-based personnel decision happened about 35 years ago. July 23, 2023 12:47 pm ET Photo: Getty Images Regarding your editorial “A Warning to the C-Suite on Race” (July 14): The first and last time that I was requested to make a nonmerit-based personnel decision happened about 35 years ago, when I served as a member of my department’s personnel-action committee. After the committee submitted its shortlist of candidates, based solely on merit, to the dean, we were informed that the list had to include a minority candidate, even if he or she weren’t among the best qualified. The committee refused and we resigned. Perhaps, decades later, this insanity has finally run its course. Em. Prof. Ira Sohn Montclair State University Upper Montclair, N.J.
Photo: Getty Images
Regarding your editorial “A Warning to the C-Suite on Race” (July 14): The first and last time that I was requested to make a nonmerit-based personnel decision happened about 35 years ago, when I served as a member of my department’s personnel-action committee. After the committee submitted its shortlist of candidates, based solely on merit, to the dean, we were informed that the list had to include a minority candidate, even if he or she weren’t among the best qualified. The committee refused and we resigned. Perhaps, decades later, this insanity has finally run its course.
Em. Prof. Ira Sohn
Montclair State University
Upper Montclair, N.J.
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