It seems that Josh Jarman, "MCRI promises equality for all, but proposal won't eliminate racism" (SN 4/04), and most of the students I've talked to, have fallen into the same trap.

Although the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, will do nothing to fix the discrimination against minorities in this country, neither does affirmative action; if anything, it only intensifies racial prejudices.

You say there have been "centuries of abuse and discrimination against people of color and other minorities by an entrenched white establishment," and yet the solution you promote is simply giving someone 20 points on an admissions application.

To get to the root of the problem, we must address the disparity in funding for public schools in black and minority communities compared to those in white communities. This problem is no secret, but for whatever reasons, it is being ignored. It is the reason why we justify affirmative action, yet this does nothing to fix it.

At the debate, Tim Wise — the new savior on campus — acknowledged this and no one seemed phased.

The MCRI and affirmative action both have their hearts in the right place, but they are both wrong. We should be focusing our efforts on a way to fix the funding for public schools.

Tom Slanda
political science freshman