Series to examine affirmative action

Symposium intended to educate students about contentious issue

With the lawsuit that challenges the University's affirmative action practices looming, members of various student organizations have united to sponsor a four-day symposium this week to shed light on the pressing issue.

"Affirmative Action 101: Understanding the Controversy" intends to inform members of the University community about the social policy through a series of two-hour speech and discussion sessions focusing on several topics, including affirmative action's history and the politics surrounding the controversial issue.

"We really wanted to provide education for the students on both sides of the issue so they can make a wise decision regarding what stance they would like to take on the issue," said Kenneth Jones, who chairs the Michigan Student Assembly Minority Affairs Commission.

MAC, along with the Women's Issues Commission, organized the symposium, while more than 10 student organizations, many with contrasting opinions on affirmative action, are sponsoring the event.

Jones said that most students learn about affirmative action primarily through secondary channels, and the symposium will allow students to learn first-hand about views and facts concerning the debated policy.

"Hopefully from the speakers we have, from (University) Prof. (Carl) Cohen to (State Reps.) David Jaye to Ted Wallace, (students) will be able to put together their own ideas on the issue," Jones said.

WIC Co-Chair Puja Dhawan said the symposium will not advocate for or against affirmative action practices.

"We're trying to present an unbiased platform so students can form their own opinions," Dhawan said.

Each segment of the four-day event will last two hours and will be broken into two parts - one hour for the speakers to address the audience and the second hour as a forum for discussion.

Interim Rackham Dean Earl Lewis, who will participate in tomorrow's session emphasizing affirmative action in academics, said the lawsuit most likely was the impetus behind organizing the symposium. But, Earl added, many recent historical events, including the Hopwood case in Texas and Proposition 209 in California, have captivated the nation, sparking a closer look at how race factors into decisions nationwide.

"I think we're closing another chapter and beginning a new one," Lewis said, adding that citizens are now examining the current state of race relations and how that impacts social policies.

"The more opportunities we have internally to engage in dialogue, the better off we are as a community," he said.

Lewis said he will place affirmative action in a historical context during his speech.

Tonight's speakers include Law Prof. Terrence Sandalow and Cohen, an RC professor, who will detail the history of affirmative action.

Cohen is noted for his research on the statistical information he has compiled about the University's admissions practices. His data shows that minority students sometimes have been admitted to the University even though their standardized test scores and GPAs have lagged behind other students.

Dhawan said WIC originally planned for a one-night event, but later realized that a significant number of aspects surrounding affirmative action existed, warranting a four-day symposium.

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