Students react to pending lawsuit

A looming lawsuit challenging the University's affirmative action policies has sparked campuswide debate among the student body.

The four state representatives organizing a class-action lawsuit have been in contact with more than 400 people who say they have been discriminated against due to affirmative action initiatives at the University. State Rep. David Jaye (R-Macomb), one of the lawsuit organizers, said the lawmakers hope to file suit this fall and plan to retain the same lawyers who won the groundbreaking Hopwood case last year.

Many students voiced their opinion on affirmative action policies after The Michigan Daily requested student input through an e-mail group.

Some students support the lawsuit's intentions because they said that for true equality, affirmative action must be abolished.

"One's race, ethnicity and gender do not necessarily correspond to a particular background or belief system," said LSA junior Gregory Hillson.

Other students, however, believe that the representatives planning the lawsuit are hypocritical.

"These are the same people who are pushing for tougher laws against criminals that commit horrendous crimes," said LSA student Andrea Zellner. "But what about slavery, racism, misogyny and all the other hatred that has existed in our society for centuries? These are crimes against humanity that were committed by upper, white, middle-class idealism."

Zellner said affirmative action is a remedy, not revenge.

"Affirmative action is a way to fight against these crimes, not a punishment for white people, but merely a way of letting our fellow human beings have a chance at opportunities they might not otherwise have," she said.

The Institute for Community Rights, the lawfirm that won Hopwood vs. Texas last year, is currently interviewing many students who say they did not receive financial aid or admissions to the University because they do not have minority status.

In the Hopwood case, a woman sued the University of Texas law school and succeeded in proving she was not admitted because she was not a minority. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that her denial of admission violated the 14th Amendment.

Some students said affirmative action is an unfair way to deal with current problems.

"I think people need to look hard at the unintended consequences of affirmative action at a selected enrollment institution such as U of M," said Rackham student Bob Thorson. "One such consequence is the stratification that results when different standards are used for different groups."

Co-chair of the Michigan Federation of College Democrats Sara Deneweth, an SNRE sophomore, said that in order to receive a full education, students should learn among many different people.

"Part of getting a good education is a diverse community," Deneweth said. "I am outraged at the lawsuit."

Deneweth noted that athletes and children of alumni also get preference in admissions decisions.

Hillson, however, said that other types of preferences are justified.

"Athletes are being rewarded for their talent and hard work," he said. "Making alumni happy by accepting their children ensures a strong alumni network and monetary donations.

"Rewarding hard work and ensuring the financial health of the University so that it can continue to allow access to many seem like just and proper goals to me."

Public Health graduate student Amy Pickard said that because racial inequality still exists, affirmative action is still necessary.

"Affirmative action was established for a reason. People of different races in our society are not treated equally and do not have the same opportunities," she said. "Until equality of both genders of all races permeates every niche in our society, we cannot afford to lose programs like affirmative action that provide opportunity for many who would otherwise have little or no way to establish a productive life for themselves."

09-08-97