BAMN cancels rally

Dark clouds and rain blanketed the students who had gathered on the steps of the Michigan Union yesterday in support of affirmative action.

Yesterday's press conference, which drew more than 35 supporters and was scheduled by the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action By Any Means Necessary, was canceled due to lack of media attention.

The conference was scheduled to refute the initiative taken by State Sen. David Jaye (R-Macomb) to end affirmative action in Michigan.

"They can't ignore the issue forever," said LSA first-year student Erika Dowdell.

Dowdell said the plan for the rally was to "let it be known we're going to do all we can to defeat this proposal."

DARBY FRIEDLIS/Daily BAMN member Melissa Resch speaks to the crowd that attended a canceled press conference on affirmative action at the Michigan Union yesterday.

BAMN still plans to protest Jaye and former University of California Regent and affirmative action opponent Ward Connerly, and counter their collaborative efforts to gain signatures on future ballot proposals that would end affirmative action. "We want to stop this before it gets on the ballot,"

BAMN member Melisa Resch said.

Dowdell announced that BAMN plans to organize another conference for Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. on the steps of the Union.

Conference organizers said they contacted many pro-affirmative action groups from around the state and students from other Michigan universities - including Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University - to speak at the conference, said BAMN member Caroline Wong.

BAMN members said the poor media showing was only a minor setback and the number of non-BAMN members who came was encouraging.

BAMN is "highly outweighed here," Wong said. "We don't judge our progress by the media's coverage."

While BAMN members blamed dreary weather, car accidents and recent major news events for the lack of press attention, Michigan State junior Christina Zapata said those reasons were not good enough for her, adding that she was disappointed by the lack of University students at the event.

Zapata said it seemed that students on campus do not understand the lasting impact of affirmative action.

This is "an institution of knowledge. It's just not jiving with these brothers and sisters," Zapata said.

She said the University's reputation and the intellectual background of the students were her hope for bringing media attention to the issue.

Dowdell announced that BAMN plans to organize another conference for Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. on the steps of the Union.

Conference organizers said they contacted many pro-affirmative action groups from around the state and students from other Michigan universities - including Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University - to speak at the conference, said BAMN member Caroline Wong.

BAMN members said the poor media showing was only a minor setback and the number of non-BAMN members who came was encouraging.

BAMN is "highly outweighed here," Wong said. "We don't judge our progress by the media's coverage."

While BAMN members blamed dreary weather, car accidents and recent major news events for the lack of press attention, Michigan State junior Christina Zapata said those reasons were not good enough for her, adding that she was disappointed by the lack of University students at the event.

Zapata said it seemed that students on campus do not understand the lasting impact of affirmative action.

This is "an institution of knowledge. It's just not jiving with these brothers and sisters," Zapata said.

She said the University's reputation and the intellectual background of the students on campus propelled her hope for bringing media attention to the issue.

02-03-99