please read...and consider taking action. -kt ******************************************** "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) ************************************************** > >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