please read...and consider taking action.
-kt
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"Don't go where the path may lead,
go where there is no path and
leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson


Karen M. Turner
Chair & Associate Professor
Department of Journalism, Public Relations & Advertising
2020 N. 13th Street, 2nd floor
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA 19122
215.204.8386 (voicemail)/ 215.204.1974 (fax)
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>
>Dear Friends,
>
>Today is something of a rarity in Syracuse.  It isn't snowing, the wind
>isn't blowing, and the temperatures are above freezing.  What a welcome
>respite from the onslaught of winter.  These clear conditions are at
>once breath-taking and breath-catching.  In breathtaking fashion, the
>beauty, and not just the hardship of winter is revealed.  It also has
>allowed me an opportunity to catch my breath to reflect on the many
>issues that demand our attention.
>
>Sitting here now, for instance, I'm listening to the Inspectors report
>to the UN Security Council.  One of my deadlines today is to finish an
>article for the Syracuse Peace Council newsletter.  Then,
>weather-permitting, a bunch of us will drive down to NYC tomorrow for
>the peace rally at the UN.  Like so many of you, we want to add our
>voices and our presence to the insistence upon a peaceful resolution of
>the conflict with Iraq.  We think this is possible and the majority of
>the world seems to agree.  With continued threats against our safety,
>however, we are rightfully anxious at this time.  Yet, we must not
>exacerbate the problems that we face nor create new ones with our
>responses.
>
>For fair-minded and progressive people, it is easy to feel under siege
>these days.  So much that we hold dear is being seriously threatened.
>It is easy feel overwhelmed and to believe that there is little we can
>do to counter these challenges.  This is why I especially appreciated
>the time to reflect today.  I envisioned several things on the way into
>the office.  First, I thought about our affirmative action struggle and
>I imagined higher education with substantially fewer students of color
>if affirmative action were abolished.  This is not a stretch for some of
>you, particularly those in California, for instance.  But for the rest
>of you, imagine your classes and institutions with fewer students of
>color and without the rich dynamics and important opportunities that
>come from having students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds in your
>educational settings.  This is unimaginable to me, and that is why,
>working with SALT and others, I am doing as much as I can to counter the
>misinformation that exists about affirmative action.
>
>I am troubled by the prospect that our voices are not being heard on
>the value and effectiveness of affirmative action in higher education.
>To address this situation, SALT has initiated an ad campaign in support
>of affirmative action.  We will place this ad in the New York Times or
>Washington Post weeks before the argument on the Michigan cases.  Such
>ads are extremely expensive, with the Times being the most expensive.
>If you read the Times this week, you may have noticed the full page ad
>on Tues., Feb. 11, on p. A11 by the Nobel laureates and other economists
>across the country who denounced the President's tax plan.  Over 500
>signatures are on this ad.  It is impressive and very powerful.  I
>envisioned our similarly powerful statement by educators across the
>country, with all of our names on it in support of diversity in higher
>education.  It struck me that the economists' ad was underwritten by the
>Economic Policy Institute.  SALT cannot underwrite our ad in that way;
>that is why we need your participation and your contributions to help
>pay the cost of the ad.
>
>Who, more than educators, should lead the effort for equality and
>inclusion in education?  Indeed, we have been greatly heartened by the
>steady response thus far.  But we still have a long way to go.
>Therefore, if you have not yet signed on, please do not delay.  Also, to
>succeed, we must adopt the credo, "each one, sign one" for this
>campaign.  That means, in addition to your own signature and
>contribution, bring another along with you.  If you have already signed
>on and made a contribution, you are halfway there.  Now you must find at
>least one other person to sign on and contribute.
>
>You can find the text of the ad at the SALT website:  www.SALTLAW.ORG.
>We will collect signatures and contributions until March 14, 2003.  The
>following information pertains to signing on the SALT affirmative action
>ad.  Share it with your friends and colleagues in all disciplines:
>
>Paula Johnson is collecting signatures for the SALT affirmative action
>ad.  You can email or fax your information to her indicating that you
>want to be listed on the ad.  Paula's email [log in to unmask], and
>fax number is 315-443-4141.
>
>SALT treasurer Norman Stein is collecting the contributions ($50
>requested) for the cost of the ad.  Please forward contributions to him
>at:  Prof. Norman Stein, SALT Treasurer, University of Maine School of
>Law, 246 Deering Avenue, Portland, ME 04102.  Make checks payable to the
>"Society of American Law Teachers" or "SALT."
>
>Thank you very much for your support.  We will keep you abreast of our
>progress and promise that subsequent reminders will be short!
>
>In solidarity and in peace,
>Paula