Dear Ali,
Thanks for expanding this dialogue and for your
forward-thinking on AEJ's supporting the Michigan case. I think that
MAC is a good venue in which we can begin to impact and shape policy
as it relates to MAC issues--certainly diversity in higher ed. is one
such issue.
>Dear Anita,
>
>To me, one of the most disturbing aspects of the
>debate over race and (higher) education in America has been
>how definition of the issue ("racial preferences" rather than
>diversity and integration) in the media and in public
>discourse has clearly shaped public policies and laws that
>during the 1990s have conspired to undo much of the hard-earned
>gains of the three previous decades. I have not yet seen research
>on this specific phenomenon -- but it's a clear challenge for
>members of our division.
>Meanwhile, the assault on diversity continues unabated. In this
>week's issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education, a long article details
>the failure of president Bush's signature program on diversity
>in higher education which he initiated as governor of Texas.
>The so-called "percent plan" in which states like Texas,
>California, and Florida decided to admit students in the
>top 5, 10, or 20 percent of their class into state university
>systems, has led to sharp declines in black and Latino enrollments
>in all three states. Considering that these are three of the four
>largest states in the nation, this is a bigger problem than it seems
>at first glance. In spite of these grim stats, anti-diversity gangs
>led by Ward Connely are gearing up yet again to legally challenge
>the "percent plans" as discriminatory against "better" students!!!!!!
>Connelly -- and those like him -- have made it clear that their
>aim is to get rid of this whole concept of diversity from higher
>education. So far, they are finding little resistance in defining
>the issues in terms of what is legally and morally acceptable and what is not
>. . .
>Although the team that drafted Bush's "percent plan" legislation has now
>disowned the program (and are in fact filing briefs in support of
>the University of Michigan's affirmative action policy) it's still
>a steep uphill battle trying to stem the tide -- given the composition
>of the current Supreme Court. But we cannot afford to give in without
>some fight. It's now becoming clear that "alternative" policies being
>advanced by conservatives are undermining equality and fairness
>in education. We should assume that this is the end game for policy makers.
>The implications of this for the future is devastating -- unless groups
>like us do more.
>
>We would like to use this forum to carry on academic and issue-oriented
>discussions for which the annual conferences do not provide adequate
>time. I therefore urge MAC members to feel free to engage in the
>proposed topic discussions. Right now we have Dr. Anita Fleming-Rife's
>topic on the legacy of Brown vs. Board of Education on the floor.
>Anyone who wishes to propose a topic for discussion can let me know
>and it will be tabled.
>Thanks.
>Ali.
>
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>>===== Original Message From Anita Fleming-Rife <[log in to unmask]> =====
>> First, thanks Ali for thinking of this wonderful idea. I am
>>sure that I am not the only one who would like to discuss research
>>interests with like-minded people but have few opportunities to do
>>so--so I really appreciate this opportunity. Since I am the first, I
>>am not certain that this is what you had in mind, but here it goes.
>> For discussion:
>>
>>"School Resegregation, Affirmative Action, and the Brown Decision:
>>Looking Back to See the Future"
>>
>>
>> By the time we meet in Kansas City in late July, the Supreme
>>Court will have decided the fate of affirmative action programs in
>>our nation's universities. At the same time, it will be less than a
>>year from the 50th anniversary of Brown v. The Board of Education,
>>Topeka --in which the United States Supreme Court decided what is
> >arguably the most important ruling in America's history. The Brown
>>decision effectively dismantled the legacy of Jim Crow in every
>>institution--except its intended, public schools. Even schools that
>>were successfully desegregated are now re-segregated; today, more
>>than 70 percent of all African-American children attend schools that
>>are predominantly black and the majority of these schools have poor
>>educational resources. This contributes to the growing disparity
>>between the pool of students eligible for higher education and the
>>pool of those who are available to compete for places at selective
>>universities.
>> In Georgia, Florida, Texas and California-states that now
>>prohibit their state universities from considering race as a positive
>>factor--admissions of African Americans have plummeted. In Georgia,
>>there was a 40% decline and in Florida the drop was even greater,
>>45%.
>> Although it has been nearly 50 years since we celebrated the
>>Brown victory, this is a contemporary issue with public policy
>>implications. MAC should be at the forefront of promoting and
>>facilitating public discourse about this important issue. The panel
>>that I proposed for this year's convention, "Looking Back to see the
>>Future: The Press and Brown V. The Board of Education, Part I," is a
>>starting point for dialogue. But let's not stop there. We should
>>discuss relevant research as related to this issue. I am working on
>>relevant research projects; I am interested in collaborating with
>>others. But I am sure that some of you may have your own research
>>interests along these lines and may need opportunities for
>>collaboration as well. I think that AEJ should consider an issue
>>dedicated to media coverage of Brown to commemorate the 50th
>>anniversary of Brown.
>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>A. Fleming-Rife, Ph.D.
>>Assistant Professor
>>304A James
>>College of Communications
>>The Pennsylvania State University
>>State College, PA 16802
>>
>>(O) 814-865-8135
--
A. Fleming-Rife, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
304A James
College of Communications
The Pennsylvania State University
State College, PA 16802
(O) 814-865-8135
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