Lauren Reischer's Response

        Although the continued implementation of affirmative action could potentially entail complications amongst students regarding inequality, underlying tactics of affirmative action--such as tracking--promote educational equity in ways which would be inaccessible if affirmative action is eliminated. Affirmative action, by definition, is a policy in which students who tend to suffer from discrimination, inequality or injustice, are for once favored. Through tracking, for example--a tactic in the education system in which courses are divided into levels, and students can be placed into a class depending on each individual's performance--students who would normally be deprived of taking accelerated courses, or who are struggling and require a slower, more meticulous pace, are thus able to learn and grow according to their own needs and at the best of their ability. In this way, I understand, tracking is unequal because the classes are unavailable to under performing students, and furthermore, it may be posed as condescending or unsupportive. However, ultimately, it will benefit students. It is not beneficial to a student who is forced to be in a class that is too difficult, or not challenging enough, and with affirmative action in place students are able to fulfill their potential. All that being said, it is important that this system is carefully regulated, so not to be abused. For example, it is crucial that financial or ethnic backgrounds are not taken into account when students are registered to courses. Rather, the prerequisites to be approved for a particular class should be based solely on performance and ability, otherwise it no longer becomes equitable or beneficial.