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. > > > > > > > > > >>===== 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