Diversity is only one factor that accounts for the wreckage of American public education, including our colleges and universities--but it is an important one. James Daughdrill ("Diversity at the Service of Politics," Column Right, Dec. 16) correctly observes that hiring quotas based on gender and race actually prevent diversity.
The tragedy of this travesty is that although legally discriminating policies will result in hiring more women and minorities, not hiring the best-qualified persons--regardless of gender, race or any other criterion--will diminish the long-term quality of college and university programs, a price too high to pay.
