A new day

Day of Action works for equality

The struggle to defend affirmative action takes center stage today, both on campus and nationwide, during the National Day of Action. Many groups on campus will organize events to publicize the necessity of affirmative action and to educate the general public on this highly controversial topic. Today's events include several lectures and forums, and a rally on the Diag. The main goal is to defeat the ballot initiative proposed by state Sen. David Jaye (R-Macomb) and former University of California regent Ward Connerly. This initiative, which resembles California's Proposition 209, would eliminate affirmative action in the state of Michigan if it were approved in the November 2000 election. This must not be allowed to happen - University students should take advantage of the opportunity to take a stand in favor of affirmative action.

This year's National Day of Action has eliminated the troubling aspects of last year's event. Last February, the University's proponents of affirmative action advocated skipping class as well as organizing a sit-in in the Fishbowl. While public shows of support for affirmative action are important and necessary, class strikes and sit-ins create conflict with the University administration, which is a strong supporter of the cause. As it is doing this year, the Day of Action should focus on educating students on the importance of diversity, and supporting the University's effort to uphold its policy.

A feature of this year's event is that faculty members have been encouraged to teach their classes today on affirmative action or a related topic. Other events include a rally and march on the Diag at noon, and later this evening there will be several talks on the importance of affirmative action.

For the last few years, affirmative action has been under siege at campuses nationwide. The class action lawsuit filed against the University last fall is only the closest example. The University of California at Berkeley and the University of Texas have both experienced significant drops in minority enrollment since California and Texas abolished affirmative action. In 1997, the University of Texas Law School enrolled only four black students in a class of 400. This trend has surfaced at most prestigious universities in places where affirmative action has been dismantled. If Jaye's ballot initiative is successful, it is very possible that the same thing will happen in Michigan. That must not be allowed to happen.

Affirmative action is the most effective way to ensure a diverse campus. Diversity is a key part of the educational experience, because it allows students to encounter people of vastly different backgrounds. This teaches students lessons that cannot be taught in the classroom and that students may not have learned in a more homogeneous community. Not only would it deny many minorities a chance to attend a top-level university, but abolishing affirmative action would deny all students a crucial part of higher education.

The National Day of Action is a chance to demonstrate support for diversity on campus. The organizers of the Day of Action have made a commendable effort to stand up for affirmative action and teach people why it is necessary. Students should try to attend today's events and show their support for affirmative action.

02-24-99