After reading the Boston Globe story in its entirety, my initial reaction was for those bright, intelligent students to transfer to a more welcoming institution. At the other extreme, my reaction is from a Chris Rock concert, where he says, "ain't nothing that a white boy with penny hates more is [n-word] with a nickel. So to the students, hold your head up, stay focused and reach out to others.

But then I realized how can anybody stay focused on the objective of learning and personal development while dealing with these racial insults? Of course, in some warped way, that is the point of the white students who put down the achievements of these students of color and by denying them access to social events. These are distractions that are intended to upset and shock an individual.

Imagine someone screaming at the top of their lungs at the top of Tiger Wood's backswing each time he went into his routine to hit the ball. He would be rattled, agitated, angry, and in short lose focus on his objective and thus thrown off his game. Well, that is what these young students are experiencing today, and it is taking place at universities all over the country. At a golf tournament, the person would be removed immediately. However, in a place like Boston, the perpetrators who spew disruptive, racial epithets and discount accomplishments because someone is not of the same hue, has more to do with a level of insecurity and self-esteem, not to mention the culture of this region. You can't chalk it up to ignorance, because these young white students know better.

Unfortunately, guile and diplomacy becomes the core skills learned to deal with the experiences described in the article. Rather, these young students should be focused on scholarship and building quality relationships that will ensure future opportunities to enjoy good paying careers. Depending on what's important to the individual student, there is a strong case to consider an HBCU as they think about options for higher education.

Sent by Lafayette Howell | 3:59 PM ET | 12-05-2007

Two of the incidents described in the Globe article illustrate perfectly the unintended consequences of Affirmative Action based college admissions policies.

As long as colleges and universities admissions offices continue to put their thumbs on the scale in favor of minority applicants, there will be those that question whether a particular student benefited, or whether they would have been admitted by a race-blind process. The suspicion and doubt such a system fosters hampers the college experience - both academic and social - of minority students.

In a real sense, the true victims of Affirmative Action are those students that "benefit" themselves - the students that are admitted despite sub-par academic qualifications. Not only must bear the curious eyes of their classmates, but they must attempt to succeed at a level of academic rigor their educational background has not prepared them for. The ones who do succeed are no doubt destined for great things. However the many who cannot keep pace - not because of racism, or prejudice but because they were not academically qualified to be there in the first place - are personally deflate while providing further fodder for critics on the look out for "charity cases."

If a purely merit-based, race blind society is the goal where individuals are judged on their character and abilities and not their "hues", why should the same not be the goal for institutions of higher education?

Sent by Chase | 12:16 PM ET | 12-06-2007

Diversity in America is what makes this United States of America. however, this is not the case for most people of color. I really don't understand why white Americans feel that they are any better and, should have free access to life. While others should have nothing. This is such a bias country. The professors are no better. They are extremely subjective. Most of the Black students in higher education are there because, they have worked hard to get be there. This is pure jealousy, hatred and evil behavior, that should not be tolerated. If a Black or anyone other minority caused tension like this, they would be penalized. This is why white students and, their parents behave this way, because soiciety reward them for negative behavior.....

Sent by cecilia | 9:02 AM ET | 12-21-2007