Microblog Memes

That article reads like a right-wing talking points memo, definitely not "just reporting the news".

This quiz served as further screening of applicants who had already graduated from a 200-hour training program and achieved high scores on AT-SAT, a grueling, eight-hour cognitive test that measures each of the specific skills needed to do the job properly.

So essentially everyone comes out of this per-screen equal-ish.

Biodata measures are based on the measurement principle of behavioral consistency, that is, past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. Biodata measures include items about past events and behaviors reflecting personality attributes, attitudes, experiences, interests, skills and abilities validated as predictors of overall performance for a given occupation.

• Source: Biographical Data (Biodata) Tests

The questionnaire sought irrelevant information such as the “college subject in which I received my lowest grade.” Those answering “history/political science” received 15 points. Playing four or more sports in high school was worth 5 points.

By contrast, holding a pilot’s license — a major advantage for a controller — was worth only 2 points. And having valuable experience as an air traffic controller in the military was worth no points at all.

So maybe when looking at the data, people who didn't put politics/history into their work did a better job at something sensitive like being an ATC? And maybe the data showed people that played multiple sports had the stamina and ability to juggle multiple things in a high stress situation? And perhaps knowing how to actually fly a plane was worth less than knowing how to get and keep that plane safely in the air? And as for being an ATC in the military, maybe it was zero points because the skills of getting a plane into the air to delete a target in a potentially hostile environment is different than a commercial aircraft full of citizens wanting to go on spring break?

More than 3,000 top-performing, motivated applicants lost out because they weren’t members of this ethnic club.

Yes, when will employers start judging people by the whiteness of their skin instead of some test! /s