Jim Lala's opposition to affirmative action in his column "Diversity doesn't promote better education, system flawed" (SN 2/3), exemplifies the exact prejudices of which the affirmative action programs actively struggle to fight against.
Academic institutions have been criticized for their policies and for participation in affirmative action. According to Lala, while it is disappointing that many black people do not get into certain colleges, it is not anyone's job but their own to better their own status. Aside from this being an outright racist statement, affirmative action programs and initiatives apply to many classifications besides blacks. By definition, affirmative action is the set of public policies and initiatives designed to help eliminate past and present discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Much of the opposition to affirmative action is framed on the grounds of so-called "reverse discrimination and unwarranted preferences." Lala posed the question, "Why penalize white students who have done nothing wrong?" Under the law, as written in executive orders and interpreted by the courts, "anyone benefiting from affirmative action must have relevant and valid job or educational qualifications."
Meaning, that one "black person" that gets into the school of "your choice" instead of you, probably had comparable scores on the entrance exams. Not better, not worse, but comparable. It doesn't mean that all the sudden 20 points for race and a score of 850 on the SATs will gain minorities admissions into competitive academic institutions over whites.
Institutions that are proven to operate under timetables or quotas are not intending to fulfill the constituents of equal rights or higher education, but are undermining the rights of those that are qualified and discriminated against based off of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Lala, you were right about one thing, though. "Often people get affirmative action confused with the Civil Rights movement." Unfortunately, you are one of them.
Robert Jenkins
communication junior
