Connerly, students debate affirmative action
Regent defends view on issue as discussion flares
By Nancy Hsu
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
In an attempt to clarify his stand against race-based admissions
policies, Regent Ward Connerly spoke publicly to students for the
first time in a heated debate Wednesday afternoon in Ackerman Grand
Ballroom.
"We’re at a fork in the road where we decide whether or not to
embrace multiculturalism and diversity or whether we embrace not
judging people by their color or ethnicity," Connerly said in his
opening remarks.
"The primary objective of our society was to provide equality of
opportunity, where your race, color or ethnicity do not decide
whether you get a job or are admitted to a university," he
continued.
Wednesday’s event comes in the wake of escalating debates over
the validity of affirmative action in admissions and hiring
practices. The debate, sponsored by the African Student Union,
focused on whether or not race and gender should be eliminated as
considerations in admissions practices.
Connerly gained attention as an outspoken anti-affirmative
action proponent in January after saying at a UC Regents meeting
that he thought race-based admissions and hiring policies within
the university system should end. In the past four months, he has
been criticized and harassed by supporters of the policy, he
said.
Tempers flared early on when one student made what Connerly
called "personal attacks."
Nancy Jackson, a fourth-year English student, accused Connerly
of betraying African Americans and minorities.
"I’m a little taken off guard," Jackson addressed Connerly. "I
didn’t think you were African American. I thought you were
white."
About 50 students, staff and faculty attended the discussion.
Berky Nelson, director of the Center for Student Programming,
served as the moderator while Walter Allen, a sociology professor,
was the other participant.
Several students lined up for a chance to address the panel.
Most questions and comments, however, were directed at
Connerly.
Throughout the event, Connerly defended his position. He also
asked students not to judge him solely by what they have read about
his statements in newspapers.
"I can tell you right now, I want to keep affirmative action,"
Connerly said. "I also want to keep ethnicity and race out of
admissions practices. That’s a solution I’m trying to find."
When questioned by Allen on how that would be achieved, Connerly
proposed more outreach efforts in which affirmative action staff
would go into K-12 schools as counselors and tutors.
Connerly repeatedly emphasized that he simply wants to see if
there is a better way of creating equality in admissions and hiring
that disregards race and gender.
"As I look at the numbers, there has been benefit (to minorities
and women), but in terms of the numbers, the benefits have been
illusionary," he said. "Let’s see if there’s a better way to do
it."
By the end of the hour and a half long debate, Connerly said he
would think twice about speaking at another similar event.
"Despite the personal anger that builds within me … when I
leave, I will look at this meeting and think about people who think
very strongly about their point of view," Connerly said. "I have
seen a lot of bigotry within the University of California. There’s
a lot of intolerance to different points of view. It frightens
me."
Allen agreed with Connerly’s statement on his right to have
different ideas, but he also pointed out that the audience had been
listening respectfully.
"We have put ideas on the table and dealt with them," Allen
said. "People are listening. There’s no cat-calling or shouting.
This has been a civil consideration."