THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 19, 1995 TAG: 9507190398
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: DEMOCRACY AND CITIZENSHIP
Creating new conversations
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Affirmative action has been a cornerstone of American public policy for more than a quarter-century. Now it is under attack. The debate has stirred deep passions among Americans.
The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star want to foster an informed community discussion on this issue - one that goes beyond the sound bites and explores the underlying principles.
Affirmative action takes many forms: Businesses setting goals and timetables for hiring women and minorities. Universities offering preferences in the admissions process to minority students and earmarking scholarships for minorities. The government setting aside a percentage of business contracts for firms owned by minorities or women.
In discussions sponsored by the newspaper, participants identified these as some of the conflicts behind the controversy:
Merit vs. diversity: Is the American way to reward only merit, or does it also take into account diversity to ensure a work force - or student body - representative of the country?
Fairness vs. opportunity: Do these preferences discriminate against white males, or do they offer a chance to groups that were cut out of power for too long in this country?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
1. Affirmative action was begun in the late '60s under President Lyndon B. Johnson. How much longer should businesses, government and colleges use preferences? How do we decide when they no longer will be necessary?
2. If we end affirmative action, what will be the benefit to the country? What will be the downside? How do we determine whether one outweighs the other?
3. Some people have proposed alternatives to affirmative action that they think could satisfy the concerns of all sides - for instance, adopting preferences based on income, not race. Would that change the country for the better? Are there other ways businesses, government and colleges could ensure fairness for all races and both genders? Should these methods replace standard approaches to affirmative action, or should they complement them?
4. What role could other institutions in the community - churches, public schools, families - play to accomplish the goals of affirmative action?
Send your comments to Phil Walzer, The Virginian-Pilot, 4565 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va. 23462; e-mail us at walzer1 (at) infi.net; fax us at 490-7235; post to the news group hr.general at http://www.infi.net/pilot/talk; or call Infoline at 640-5555, and press 2228. by CNB