In Bryan Victor's letter "Affirmative action helps fight racism" (SN 3/24), he claims that the state does have the right to treat people differently based on race.

I would like to call everyone's attention back to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 where it states the principle of equality "without regard to their race, color, religion, or national origin."

I wonder, how is it that minorities will ever overcome the separation between themselves and the majority if they are continually labeled, separated and treated differently?

A study done by Heilman, Block, and Lucas (1992, study 2) shows that women and other minorities were perceived as less competent when affirmative action was a component in the selection process than when it was not.

If we really wanted to help those at a disadvantage at getting into college, we would implement a socioeconomic "affirmative action" so that those who have the most trouble at qualifying for college (worse schools, unable to participate in extra curricula, work full time as well as attend high school) would be helped regardless of race, color or ethnicity.

Stacey Mattson
preveterinary freshman