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Latino-Native American Cultural Center newspaper clippings, 1970-2001
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The Daily Iowan http://128.255.60.56/cgi-bin/LiveIQue.acgi$rec=3158?Arts regards Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action as tools to achieve diversity. The (UI) believes that a rich diversity of people and the many points of view they bring serve to enhance the quality of the educational experience at the (UI)." Affirmative action and diversity are not the same thing. Affirmative action is one of many tools universities use to achieve excellence and diversity. Diversity, as referred to in the UI's statement, is broader than race and gender, though it encompasses both. Affirmative action does not extend to members of political parties, as Strang suggests, because being a member of a political party is not a legally protected, immutable characteristic that affirmative action was designed to address. Affirmative action is a way to help us move beyond traditional stereotypes and enhance our vision of what is possible. But to do that we have to understand first that stereotypes exist and must be debunked. Opponents of affirmative action often argue that we should be a color-blind society. We aren't. In light of our country's history, the only way to get beyond race and gender discrimination is to understand their legacy and their impact. Some opponents of affirmative action argue that it stigmatizes racial minorities and women. We appreciate the thoughtfulness, but being excluded from the table is worse than any so-called stigma. Affirmative action is an imperfect solution. But it is the best one we have for ensuring that minorities and women are given an equal opportunity to compete. Those who would destroy affirmative action and its many benefits have nothing better to offer in its place. To suggest that we limit opportunities to a narrow segment of the population is unacceptable in this increasingly diverse world. Strang makes the assumption that affirmative action is all about numbers and percentages. It's not. It's about removing barriers to opportunity. To prepare students completely for the future, a responsible UI must think globally and must actively seek out many different voices. Strang says we should hire faculty and admit students based on merit. The UI does. To assume everyone else who got here is without regard to merit is nonsense. 2 of 3 4/15/99 1:27 PM
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The Daily Iowan http://128.255.60.56/cgi-bin/LiveIQue.acgi$rec=3158?Arts regards Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action as tools to achieve diversity. The (UI) believes that a rich diversity of people and the many points of view they bring serve to enhance the quality of the educational experience at the (UI)." Affirmative action and diversity are not the same thing. Affirmative action is one of many tools universities use to achieve excellence and diversity. Diversity, as referred to in the UI's statement, is broader than race and gender, though it encompasses both. Affirmative action does not extend to members of political parties, as Strang suggests, because being a member of a political party is not a legally protected, immutable characteristic that affirmative action was designed to address. Affirmative action is a way to help us move beyond traditional stereotypes and enhance our vision of what is possible. But to do that we have to understand first that stereotypes exist and must be debunked. Opponents of affirmative action often argue that we should be a color-blind society. We aren't. In light of our country's history, the only way to get beyond race and gender discrimination is to understand their legacy and their impact. Some opponents of affirmative action argue that it stigmatizes racial minorities and women. We appreciate the thoughtfulness, but being excluded from the table is worse than any so-called stigma. Affirmative action is an imperfect solution. But it is the best one we have for ensuring that minorities and women are given an equal opportunity to compete. Those who would destroy affirmative action and its many benefits have nothing better to offer in its place. To suggest that we limit opportunities to a narrow segment of the population is unacceptable in this increasingly diverse world. Strang makes the assumption that affirmative action is all about numbers and percentages. It's not. It's about removing barriers to opportunity. To prepare students completely for the future, a responsible UI must think globally and must actively seek out many different voices. Strang says we should hire faculty and admit students based on merit. The UI does. To assume everyone else who got here is without regard to merit is nonsense. 2 of 3 4/15/99 1:27 PM
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