Support for diversity

Study shows benefits of affirmative action

Over the past few weeks of Presidential debates, Americans have heard economic accusations on just about everything from a bad tax policy to "fuzzy math." In an era of politics dominated by rhetoric and anecdotes at least one divisive issue has garnered concrete economic support recently.

The Journal of Economic Literature recently published a review of more than 200 serious scientific studies on affirmative action. The study is the joint effort of two distinguished economists, David Neumark of Michigan State University and Harry Holzer of Georgetown University. The study refutes many long-time assertions of affirmative action supporters, including the idea that those helped by affirmative action are less qualified and able to succeed.

Although, as Neumark and Holzer acknowledge, the study isn't foolproof, its findings support the case for affirmative action at the University and throughout the country. The study includes findings such as that black students at selective universities graduate at higher rates than blacks at less demanding institutions and that women hired under affirmative action do not fall behind their male equivalents in either performance or credentials. The study also shows Hispanics and blacks hired under affirmative action perform on par with white counterparts despite being having generally less experience at the start of their employment.

Up until this point, most of the debate on affirmative action has centered around theory and anecdotal evidence with few claims on either side of the debate being supported factually. The Holzer-Neumark study helps to prove the benefits of affirmative action. Supporters of the policy can now point to data that refutes claims that minority students fail under affirmative action. Perhaps most importantly however, is that those in favor of affirmative action now have empirical proof that the program has tangible social benefits. For example, according to the study, new African-American medical school graduates are far more likely than their white classmates to serve poor and minority patients in rural and inner city areas.

The results of the Holzer-Neumark study provide strong support for the University's efforts at maintaining diversity on campus and back up the extensive support the University's affirmative action policies have received in the business community as exemplified by the joint amicus brief (friend of the court) filed by 20 prominent companies recently. The brief stressed the importance of affirmative action at the university level and eventually in the corporate world. This study and strong corporate support formalize a long-held belief of the University: Affirmative action is necessary.

Even before the release of the recent scientific study, these companies knew the value of maintaining diversity. The corporations who voluntarily choose to support the University in its legal battles decided to do so based upon personal experience.

Affirmative action provides an element of diversity crucial to education: the past week of scientific and economic support has helped prove it.