Why would it be clandestine? Is it clandestine because you’ve never heard of it, or is it clandestine because you think schools are keeping it “hush-hush”?
I did finally find a cite. It’s kinda interesting if you have time to read it:
http://qcpages.qc.edu/calandra/research/pdf/trends/intro.pdf
No, I used the word “clandestine” in a bit of hyperbole because your posts suggest that not only are people generally not informed of a problem getting Italian-American males into college and keeping them there, they are also unaware that special efforts are being made to target them for recruitment. When AA efforts on behalf of other minorities are well publicized, it is hard to see how the issue w/r/t Italian-American males could be so low-profile, especially given the large population of Italian-Americans in this area.
I thank you for taking the time to find a cite. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to download a copy of the pdf that isn’t damaged, so I’m unable to read it. I’m actually familiar with Sen. Calandra’s activities, though, through my afore-mentioned boss. He was actively encouraged by Calandra’s organization to seek damages from CUNY for discrimination he had experienced during his time as a grad student and instructor there (see this page on Calandra’s web site). So… if adding Italian-Americans to the AA list at CUNY is the kind of AA you were referring to, I have to point out that this action stemmed principally from problems that faculty had getting promoted, and students (grad students in particular) had in getting equal financial support. It was not a recruiting issue, because as Calandra’s own web site points out, Italian-Americans were flocking to CUNY from 1970 on.
In any event, CUNY is but one institution. I would still be most interested to know what schools have AA programs targeting Italian-American males during the recruitment process.
I saw an phone interview on CNN today and he was asked about the apparent contradiction between his position on race-based scholarships and his receiving 5000.00 from a hispanic scholarship. His argument was that his scholarship, although from a hispanic focused organization, was based upon merit. He quoted his GPA and/or SAT/ACT scores, etc., to support it was based upon academic achievement, not skin color.
This is paraphrased of course and I am not taking a position on the validity of his statements. 
MeanJoe
My point was that schools have their own AA policies that aren’t widely publicized. Just because a school says “minorities and women are encouraged to apply” does not mean they don’t give preferences to Southern students, gay students, disabled students, rural students, male students…or Italian students.
Yes, it’s unfortunate that you can’t access the article (and thanks for yours). Whether or not Italian Americans are granted special treatment because of discrimination or drop-out rate , my point was that they receive special treatment in admissions. A point that I have to confess, after rereading the article, I still cannot prove. It may be that my friend–like myself–confused AA for Italian American instructors with AA for Italian American students. I do have to wonder, though, if AA policies for academic institutions are standard for both hiring and admissions . Particularly when we talk about graduate students.
Well, to be fair to those readers who aren’t from NY, CUNY is a huge system, spanning almost 20 colleges. Hence the plural “schools” in my post. But you’re right: CUNY is most definitely in the minority with its hiring practices.
[Andy Rooney voice]
Almost 20? Does that mean 19?
[/Andy Rooney voice]
It’s about time.
The hypocrisy of the UNCF is unparalleled.
Hopefully this little stunt will help open the eyes of the masses to shame that is affirmative action.
He may have earned the scholarship on merit, but he was only eligible for the scholarship because of the color of his skin. He doesn’t get a pass, not as long as he’s taking any money based on the color of his skin.
I see nothing wrong with this. Why does one have to be an outsider to change the system? If said white-bread country club guy isn’t hiding his opinions from the club bvoys, and is worknig publicly to change the rules, what’s the problem.
In short, I don’t understand why this is such a major pain for people. He’s using what advantages he can to succeed; he also has an ideological objection to the current system. It seems that if anything he himself knows what he’s talking about.
But Materra has no problem with his scholarship, though (as far as we can deduce from the OP and MeanJoe’s synopsis). He thinks it’s a merit-based scholarship. But if it were only merit-based, being Hispanic would not be a criterion (as the article cited by the OP states that it is). He’s deluding himself. If he were trying to change the scholarship program and make it open to everyone, it would be different. No, I think he’s content with it the way that it is. I admit that it would helpful to find out just what program he receives funding from. It could be that although it’s a Hispanic organization, non-Hispanics are eligible for funding.
(I know of no scholarship that just gives money to people without any consideration of merit. If I establish a scholarship for people who maintain a B average and have a 1000 SAT score, can’t this be said to be just as much “merit-based” as one that’s opened to everyone but requires an A average and a 1400 SAT score? The “merits” are different but they are still there in both cases, right? I’m confused.)