Hello, readers.
Recently, we discussed an alarming revelation involving Hasan Piker, who made public a controversial financial strategy that could be linked to foreign influence.
It felt like it warranted its own spotlight instead of being packed into another discussion.
At the same time, there were other disclosures…
dumb and dumber
Back in the tumultuous summer of 2020, amidst protests that turned destructive following George Floyd’s death, the University of California system decided it was a good moment to drop SAT and ACT admissions requirements.
Interestingly, about 700 other universities joined this trend, increasing the number of test-optional colleges in the U.S. from 1,000 to 1,700.
They claimed it was justified, as many testing centers were closed due to the pandemic, leaving students unable to sit for the exams.
Activist groups advocating for Black and Latino students celebrated this move, considering it a success for “equitable admissions.” They had been pushing for a decade to either reduce or completely remove admission standards.
For these groups, relying solely on personal essays—which they argued were affected by racism—and significantly inflated GPAs from public schools sufficed.
Now, some six years down the line, professors in STEM fields, frustrated by what they perceive as a decline in student preparedness, are voicing their concerns.
They’ve gathered 720 signatures, primarily from UC Berkeley, but also from other campuses like San Diego, UCLA, and Davis. They are calling for a return to standardized testing. Many of the signers specialize in areas like math, physics, computer science, and engineering.
The letter points out that an alarming number of students entering STEM programs struggle with even basic middle school math.
Yes, you read that right—students in California’s science and tech colleges aren’t prepared to pass eighth-grade math.
“Currently, we observe a readiness gap so severe that teachers must reteach middle school mathematics while simultaneously teaching students what they need in science, engineering, economics, and other quantitatively demanding fields,” the letter states.
The entire letter is worth a read, but here are a few notable excerpts.
we predicted this
“This outcome was clearly predicted by the Academic Senate’s 2020 Standardized Testing Task Force (STTF) report, which warned that eliminating these tests would eliminate important predictors of college success and obscure the effects of severe high school grade inflation.”
Your campaign for equity has ensnared unprepared students.
The SAT/ACT math requirements don’t hinder fairness; they’re essential for it. Ignoring the readiness gap doesn’t eliminate obstacles; rather, it moves them into the classroom, where they become even harder to surmount. Admissions processes that overlook basic preparation can end up disadvantaging the very students they aim to help.
And the best coup among demands
Establish faculty supervision: Ensure oversight of STEM faculty concerning preparation standards and admissions policies that significantly impact STEM programs.
STEM faculty are not just looking to reinstate standardized tests; they also want to reclaim control over the admissions process, particularly for STEM students, from a university bureaucracy they view as cumbersome.
Ah.
To truly address this issue, we should consider: Were schools and essential services for kids genuinely high-risk factors during the coronavirus pandemic?
When we look at the numbers, the answer seems clear. The total case fatality rate for those under 18 ranged from 0.01% to 0.03%, and we were aware of this as early as mid-summer 2020. These figures are comparable to the flu, sometimes even less deadly.
So, from a scientific standpoint, there seems to be minimal risk in gathering a couple of hundred 17 and 18-year-olds in a gymnasium for a test.
Dear reader, foolishness breeds more foolishness. It’s hard to find a clearer example.
Other links
Mamdani’s bone-chilling pledge shows the depth of his willingness to cooperate with government forces
This is the reality when a self-identified socialist holds the mayoral position in America’s largest city.
Jill Biden thought her husband had a stroke during disastrous 2024 debate
Just a month of stroke?
White House Budget Office launches investigation into 49 activist NGOs
More to come on this.
