Yes, we understood it was a provocative topic. That’s why we chose it. To provoke thought. Next.
No, the question is not racist. It’s a speculation about race. Let’s be clear about that. Next.
Well, because it’s frankly ridiculous to base admissions entirely on test scores. We have new science that tells us that answers to these essay questions are good indicators of creativity and leadership. Next. In the back?
No, I don’t think we’d be here if he hadn’t sued us. That’s his right. He feels he was discriminated against for his ideas.
Other topics from the list? Germany Wins World War II was another example. Your Roommate Is an Alien. Next?
No, we never anticipated the sort of opinions he expressed. We find them, any civilized person would find them, offensive in the extreme. I’m sorry. Did you have a question? We can’t just let you—. No. That’s my microphone.
That’s right. His rejection letter did mention the quality of thinking shown in his essay. No. No. Quality of thinking.
No, actually, that’s not policy, to explain to students why they’re rejected. We’re looking into how that happened.
No, we didn’t use the language “hate speech.” I know that’s been reported, but, no.
No, as I said, we’re the exact opposite of racist. We’re a university. If not here, where else can dangerous ideas be discussed? I’m sorry. I’ll have to insist you leave if—can we get security?
No. Student applications are confidential. We have no plans to release the essay. It would be inflammatory.
That would be true if we had rejected him for content. No, as I said, it was the quality of his thinking that cost him the—. Well, that’s what the judge will decide. Yes, next. A soft one, please.
Copyright © March 04, 2007 David Hodges
Very Short Novels 
7 comments
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March 4, 2007 at 4:40 pm
litlove
Derrida once visited my university and gave an hour-long speech on the white space between the title of a work and its first word. I think he’d have his work cut out here, David, trying to track the amazingly rich, evocative white spaces in your posts, where we readers are enticed into adding our own private 1,000 or so words to your economical 299. You manage to gesture towards so much meaning with so few phrases – it’s truly remarkable.
Thank you, Litlove. I know for certain this time I’m expecting a great deal of writing from the reader. Thank you for doing more than your fair share.
–David
March 5, 2007 at 3:55 am
Anthony
That was interesting, like listening to someone talk on the phone, and figuring out what they’re talking about. I’m wondering what the question was….
How would life be different today if Rosa Parks had given up her seat on the bus?
–David
March 8, 2007 at 6:28 pm
briseiscaptured
What was the last question the speaker answered?
(I love this one! It’s fantastic!)
The judge will have to decide whether the essay answer constituted hate speech and whether, if so, it was protected speech, and finally, whether the university did or could deny acceptance on the basis of ideas expressed in an admissions essay. So any of these questions might have been asked. Glad you liked it, Briseis. Now, get back to answering those essay questions! This one was posed by Tufts University.
–David
February 15, 2008 at 5:26 pm
davidbdale
I’ve posted this again a year after its first appearance because it’s been so often searched in recent days, perhaps because it’s Black History Month.
February 16, 2008 at 3:00 am
Jim Murdoch
An interesting approach, took me a couple of reads to get and I had to look up Rosa Parks but I recognised the story right away. I always struggle with stories about race because I was never brought up to be racist. That said I must have been about nine before I saw my first black man in the flesh and that was on a trip to London (we were living in the west of Scotland at the time). I know the whole history of black oppression (my wife and I have only recently been rewatching ‘Roots’) but I don’t get why the bigotry lasted so long in the USA when it didn’t here in the UK. Or maybe I do – we’ve hated the English for about that long; that’s not racism, that’s nationalism.
The legacy is slavery is long, Jim. Thank you for your comments.
–David
February 17, 2008 at 2:15 pm
grantman
Jim Crow, poll taxes, literacy tests..always a hurdle to be exclusive..gated communities & entrance exams…as soon as one barrier falls, they come up with another..when will we ever learn to appreciate our differences as blessings!
grantman
I’m still nagged by hope on that one, grantman. Thanks!
–David
February 18, 2008 at 8:17 am
Wizzer
If it’s not a politically correct reason another will ALWAYS be found. If it’s not race, it’s religion, if not religion it’s upbringing or number of arms or legs or hair colour. One day it will be aliens who suffer the discrimination – but will that bring humans together!
Here where I live it’s already the aliens, but it’s dividing the citizens instead. Or did you mean space aliens? Thanks, Wizzer.
–David
Yes, I meant space aliens!