Two opponents debating the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative ballot issue clashed several times Wednesday during an hour-long debate at the Wonders Hall Kiva.
The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, will be Proposal 2 on the Nov. 7 election ballot. If passed, the proposal will prohibit race- and gender-based preferential treatment in university and government programs and institutions.
Tim Hillman, a student leader for Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience, or MRULE, argued in opposition of the proposal, and St. Clair Shores high school teacher Ben Gurk supported it.
Gurk said the current system isn't fair because it only seeks to help minorities, not the people who really need help — the poor.
"If you go to rich schools, you'll see black people, and if you go to poor schools, you'll see white people," Gurk said. "I'd be the first to subscribe to a proposal that gives advantages to people that grow up poor."
Hillman used several examples to back his claims that minorities are not treated fairly by universities and employers.
"When people talk about racism and sexism, they talk about them as if they're mutually exclusive," Hillman said. "Racism and sexism both exist in the United States."
Socioeconomic issues are the problems plaguing Michigan, Gurk said. He argued that anyone, regardless of minority status, can succeed if they work hard enough.
"When you are the best carpenter in your town, people will come knocking on your door," Gurk said.
Women, in addition to minorities, should oppose Proposal 2, Hillman said. He said the act would protect them as well.
"Women in Michigan earn 67 cents to every dollar that men make," Hillman said. "Sexism, like racism, needed to be combated."
He added that Michigan is ranked 49 out of 50 when it comes to paying men and women equal salaries for equal jobs.
Gurk replaced MSU College Republican chairman Jeff Wiggins in the debate as the MCRI proponent. Wiggins couldn't participate in the debate because he had a prior commitment, he said.
Kyle Bristow, chairman of MSU's chapter of the Young Americans for Freedom, was supposed to debate, but he said he decided to give other people who support Proposal 2 a "chance to give their opinions."
Alex Altman can be reached at altmanal@msu.edu.
