It never stops. A writer recently emailed me to give me the question that University of Michigan applicants had to write about this year:
’We know that diversity makes us a better university better for learning, for teaching, and for conducting research.’ Share an experience through which you have gained respect for intellectual, social, or cultural differences. Comment on how your personal experiences and achievements would contribute to the diversity of the University of Michigan.
He points out that it comes from U of M president Mary Sue Coleman’s defiant speech the day after Michigan voters passed Proposal 2 last year.
I’d guess that a student who was merely a brilliant science student and had concentrated on his studies and projects would be trouble with the U of M admissions people, unless he just made something up. Maybe that has become a new cottage industry for consultants — advising “non-diverse” students how to play the diversity game.