The proposal that the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative is working to put on the ballot in November 2006 is a racist and sexist attempt to undo what the modern civil rights movement has worked tirelessly to accomplish over the past 50 or more years.

The goal of the initiative is to prematurely end affirmative action.

That involves removing necessary and proven mechanisms that increase diversity in education and in the workplace.

These mechanisms provide opportunities to those who have been historically excluded from these areas.

There is still very much a need for responsible affirmative action policies.

It is unacceptable that the chairperson of a political organization on campus would refer to the attempt to force civil rights activists to "stand in the back" of a public committee room as an "awesome opportunity."

I hope that anyone associated with the MSU College Republicans would take a close look at what these tactics and attitude say about each member of this group.

Margaret Striz
2004 graduate