While nearly all students deserve — and are in much need of — a tuition reduction, a scholarship for descendants of U. Kansas graduates looks more like petty favoritism than an actual advantage for the student body.

The Jayhawk Generations Scholarship rewards out-of-state students who have a parent, step-parent, legal guardian, grandparent or step-grandparent who earned a KU degree. The Board of Regents approved a two-year trial run of the scholarship program in April 2009. Universities in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma have similar programs.

Not based on merit or need, this scholarship should be thrown out. This isn’t comparable to scholarships targeted toward one sex, nationality or income bracket. Those scholarships help to upturn social injustices, promote equality and push for a diverse student body.

Students must have at least a 3.25 high school grade point average and an ACT score of at least 29 to qualify for this scholarship. Those with an ACT score of 26 to 29 receive a 12 percent discount; those scoring 30 or above receive a 20 percent discount.

So, there is some academic standard to be met. But this scholarship’s premise is not based on merit.

Out of state tuition is, in fact, very expensive. Yes, scholarships are almost always a good thing.

But what have students related to KU alumni really earned over equally achieving first generation KU students? Or what do they bring to the table that first-generation students cannot?

Consider the KU community of students, graduates, faculty, staff, fans and friends and family members. When a first-generation Jayhawk is admitted to the University, he adds one more student and future graduate to the ranks. But he also brings family who might buy KU T-shirts and key chains. They could purchase football tickets to visit him in the fall. They might give to the libraries or to KU Endowment because they feel strongly about the education

he’s receiving. This one (first-generation) student introduces a plethora of individuals to the KU brand.

That’s different from a student who comes from a chain of Jayhawk grads. If that student’s parents and grandparents are alumni, the KU community isn’t expanded. Their level of patronage is unlikely to change. If they gave to the University, they’ll probably continue. If they didn’t, they probably won’t start. The student and his network were already familiar with the University. Other than his out-of-state tuition dollars, not much is gained.

There’s nothing wrong with continuing family ties. Of course continued loyalty is a good thing. It’s easier to create repeat customers than it is to lure in new customers.

But this scholarship congratulates heredity. It rewards students for being part of something they were born into. It’s medieval.

This practice looks eerily similar to sorority and fraternity “legacies,” who are given preferential treatment during the recruitment process because of their parents’, grandparents’ or siblings’ participation in the greek organization.

This discount sends the message that those whose relatives went to school here are more valuable, more deserving and more important, when in fact, that’s absolutely not the case.

We should build and expand the KU community, not constrain it.