Women's groups support 'U' in suit

In the wake of two lawsuits that target the use of race as a factor in the University's admissions processes, determined female students braved the cold yesterday to promote equal rights for women and minorities.

Representatives from several campus women's organizations gathered on the steps of the Union to speak out against anti-affirmative action movements that have recently developed at the University.

Jessica Curtin, a member of the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action By Any Means Necessary and the National Women's Rights Organizing Coalition, said the press conference was sparked by the recent suggestion that white women are not the beneficiaries of affirmative action. Curtin said white women have been wrongly pitted against minorities in the affirmative action debate.

"Too many people think white women do not benefit from affirmative action," said Curtin, an LSA senior. "We want to make it clear that women are and should be behind affirmative action."

EMILY NATHAN/Daily Asian Pacific American Law Students Association representative Marita Etcubanez speaks on the steps of the Michigan Union yesterday.

The message that there is still inequality within the University and the nation was the key idea of the press conference.

"The idea of divide and conquer is incorrect," said Jodi Masley, a first-year Law student and co-president of the Women Law Student Association. "White women need to unite with other minorities and organizations and stand up for this university."

The press conference featured statements from six women affiliated with the University who made it clear that affirmative action is necessary to maintain the community's diversity.

"We need to show the nation that this University will not support any attempts to segregate higher education," said Carla Pfeffer, an LSA junior and co-founder of the Undergraduate University Women Studies Association.

Many participants agreed that the recent lawsuits, which target the College of Literature, Science and Arts and the Law School, have brought the issue of affirmative action into the spotlight.

"The issue of affirmative action has always been there," said Winnie Kao, a Law first-year student. "Now, with the lawsuits, there is something to frame our debate."

Kao said the event aimed to prove to everyone that women of all colors benefit from affirmative action and to dispel the myth that affirmative action is just a racial issue.

02-19-98