No explanation for sexual exemption
Only one crime is worth knowing about at the University of Minnesota.
The fall 2017 application will not ask applicants to disclose “past felony convictions or pending criminal charges” – unless they are sexual in nature, Minnesota Daily reports.
The university has decided that applicants with criminal backgrounds “did not represent a threat to our campus,” as Vice Provost Bob McMaster told the newspaper.
As you may have guessed, this move has racial overtones:
Last year, sociology graduate student and “Ban the Box” advocate Robert Stewart pushed for the change to the University’s application in response to his continued research on the subject.
He said applicants coming out of the criminal justice system are disproportionately people of color. …
McMaster said after reviewing data about biases surrounding the question, particularly its effect on African-American males, University officials decided to remove the question for good … citing a “dampening effect” on African-American males’ decisions to apply.
MORE: Young black men hired less when employers can’t query criminal history
The vice provost doesn’t give any reasoning behind the exemption for sexual offenses, even if such applicants have not been found guilty, simply saying that “we feel that if someone has been convicted of a sexual offense, we need to know.”
According to Harvard Law Prof. Janet Halley, who has participated in campus disciplinary adjudications, men of color are disproportionately accused of sexual offenses.
The change to next fall’s application just formalizes a previous practice:
Last year, the University decided to remove questions regarding misdemeanors and hide the applicant’s answer to the felony question during admission decisions.
However, the national “Common App” program — which the University has recently decided to use — asks questions about applicants’ criminal history.
McMaster said the University will not be accept [sic] from the felony question on the Common App.
While you can’t avoid going to class with known criminals at UMinn, you can avoid living with them: The felony question will remain on housing applications.
MORE: Marquette students demand application ban on felony question
MORE: Lie on your application, get charged with a felony
MORE: Men of color face far higher rape complaints on campus
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