Daily Egyptian
Summer '03 Edition
An alternative to affirmative action?
Jessica Yorama
Daily Egyptian
The case concerning the form of affirmative action used at the University of Michigan may have been settled more than two weeks ago, but the issue is certainly not getting any rest.
The Supreme Court's disapproval of Michigan's form of affirmative action, but overall approval of the system as a whole, illustrated its opinion that there should be action taken toward achieving diversity. The question, even for supporters of the program, remains as to what form of action should be taken.
As recently as Tuesday, people from California and Washington, who opposed the Supreme Court's decision to uphold affirmative action, have come forth to express their opinion in hopes of reversing the decision.
At the same time, individuals who supported the decision are looking to reverse the policies in California and Washington that forbid use of racial preference. The decision to uphold affirmative action has motivated supporters to recommend a re-evaluation of anti-affirmative action laws in their states. Thus, reinstating programs that would allow for racial preference programs to once again exist at their universities.
In the midst of the battle between these sides, there are those who feel affirmative action should continue to exist, but not in its present state.
Those promoting a makeover feel that, instead of focusing on race, the program would be more effective if socioeconomic status were taken into account. Some supporters of this variation wish simply to include low-income individuals into current eligibility, joining race and gender in the considerations for affirmative action.
Others are hoping for a transformation that would make affirmative action based solely on economic issues instead of race.
In a 2000 report, The Century Foundation, a New York City research organization, found that, while minorities are often underrepresented in the college setting, comprising only 28 percent of the population, low-income students accounted for an even smaller percentage.
Students in the bottom half of the socioeconomic scale made up 10 percent of 18-year-old college students in 1995, with only 3 percent coming from the bottom fourth of this scale.
Seymour Bryson, director for diversity at SIUC, said that it is important that schools remember that affirmative action is not merely an issue of race, but also one of gender. He agreed that socioeconomic status is an important factor but also emphasized that programs geared toward low-income students are not non-existent. They have existed since the 1960s.
Joseph Brown, the director of Black American Studies at SIUC, said it is important to remember the original intent of affirmative action - to support individuals oppressed by the social system. However, he said he felt that, while race and economic status are often related and tend to cause certain obstacles, poverty alone does not evoke as many obstacles or prejudices as race.
"Poverty and race are often connected," said Brown. "But race overwhelms class as far as discrimination."
Brown said he agrees with the use of socioeconomic status only as an addition to the current program, not as a replacement. He said changing the system, as opposed to simply revising it, would cause tension between the minorities and economically oppressed.
"Adding this group does not take away the original intent," Brown said. "We need to stop putting people who are oppressed against each other."
Larry Dietz, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment, said he felt the issue of affirmative action should be studied more thoroughly, with more attention paid to individual cases.
He said he agrees with an initiative that would focus on economic issues as well as the current issues, particularly in this area where, unlike the upper half of the state, race and economic status do not have as much of a direct correlation.
"In terms of Illinois, the priority of the Student Assistance Commission has always been on finance," Dietz said. "It's really already financially based, as far as state policy is concerned."
Reporter Jessica Yorama can be reached at jyorama@dailyegyptian.com
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