MCRI Debate

• A debate about the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Wilson Hall.

• Kyle Bristow, chairman of the Young Americans for Freedom and international relations sophomore, will debate against Eric Gregory, a political theory and constitutional democracy senior and candidate for state representative.

• Bristow will be debating in favor of the MCRI standpoint, and Gregory will argue against it.

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Two MSU students will put on their boxing gloves, so to speak, to debate about the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or the MCRI, which is an initiative that would end preferential treatment of minorities and abolish affirmative action. The proposed legislation would affect students on campuses across Michigan if it's passed on Nov. 7.

Eric Gregory, a political theory and constitutional democracy senior who is running for state representative in Michigan's 41st District, will be debating against Kyle Bristow, an international relations sophomore and chairman of the Young Americans for Freedom, or YAF.

The James Madison Student Senate will hold the debate at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Wilson Hall to educate students and present all sides of the issue.

The candidates were chosen because of their excellent public speaking skills, said social relations and psychology junior Stephanie Tabashneck, a member of the James Madison Student Senate who put together the event.

"I've been following Eric Gregory and I'm really impressed with his speaking style," Tabashneck said. "He's really passionate about the MCRI. Kyle Bristow is kind of notorious in James Madison, and I've been following him, and he's really passionate about it too."

Gregory, who will be arguing against the initiative, said he hopes the debate will clear up students' misconceptions about the MCRI.

The MCRI's intention is to eliminate affirmative action, he said.

"Basically, affirmative action may not be working in the way that we want it to work," Gregory said. "But it doesn't mean the best solution is to completely eliminate it."

Bristow, who will debate in favor of the MCRI, said current legislation, which allows affirmative action, contributes to "racist policies."

"If you look into our history, there was a time when people were put into slavery because of their skin color," Bristow said. "There was a time when people weren't allowed to vote because of their skin color, and now, there are people who are put into positions that they are not qualified for, or are being denied positions that they do deserve, based on their race. It's time for our country to move on."

Members of the Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience, Black Caucus, YAF, MSU College Republicans and the MSU College Democrats have said they plan to attend the event, Tabashneck said.

"All of those different viewpoints that have been kind of against each other could be a problem," she said. "So the campus police will be there. Hopefully, they won't be needed."

Published on Monday, October 23, 2006