The student body can only benefit from MSA's support of affirmative action policies, which promote diversity on campus to improve students' education at the University. Burden's proposal would have opened the door for all affirmative action policies and guidelines to be phased out at the University - making campus less diverse and contributing to a decline in the quality of education.
The state Legislature is considering a vote to end affirmative action, a bill similar to Burden's resolution. Lawmakers who favor the bill undoubtedly would have pointed to the University, if MSA's resolution had passed, as an example of student disfavor with affirmative action policies. By voting down the resolution, MSA will not be able to add fuel to the conservative movement to disband affirmative action policies. The University must not stand as an example for anti-affirmative action legislation.
Not only did MSA vote down the bill - the assembly used this opportunity to shout its support of affirmative action. After the controversial resolution was voted down, the assembly passed a proposal that would bind MSA to the spirit of affirmative action when passing future legislation. The proposal also called for MSA to make an effort to aid underprivileged and underrepresented groups on campus. Although the details were sparse, the message is important and it serves to reassure the student body that its elected representatives will work to promote justice and equality.
For the affirmative action supporters, it was a night defined by using democracy to enact their beliefs. One hundred and fifty people - a significant turnout relative to MSA's usually sparse audience - gathered at the MSA meeting to voice their opinions and argue against Burden's proposal. A positive feeling emerged from collective support for affirmative action - supporters voiced their beliefs and hopes that one day affirmative action will no longer be necessary at the University.
Burden's eagerness to imitate California's universities in affirmative action policy would be laughable - but it's too important an issue for mirth. Neither the students nor the administrators will tolerate such a policy. When the University of California system began implementing its "colorblind" policy, regents made strong statements against the policy and its motivations. And the meeting's turnout shows the students' stance.
MSA's defeat of the proposal is commendable - as is the extra step to propose and pass another resolution defending affirmative action.