Affirmative Action

I went to a conference this week in Lansing and was pleased to be surrounded by over 283 women in higher education in Michigan pretty much from all levels in the college and university environment----- even five (female) Michigan presidents including MSU and Marygrove.

Because this group is funded from the ACE (American Council on Education) many public colleges, universities, and community colleges were there and talking heavily about Affirmative Action and its potential demise in Michigan. I was informed Ward Connerly and his grossly funded group will strike in retaliation to the U of M court wins over the admission quotas similarly to his influence and win in California.

My opinion on the outset is that I am not about quotas but after hearing several conversations about what the downfall of this Affirmative Action might include I am concerned abit – will the death of Affirmative Action mean that state and federal monies might be disallowed for battered women’s clinics? or no more free prostrate screening for men because these are based on gender? What about the Center for Women Studies Department at U of M? I plan to watch this closely and surely pray common sense and true citizenship will prevail – we need to be one another’s keepers and although I am not sure exactly how that should play out and I certain we need to be treating one another justly and conscientiously. I do think the best should be honored but we need to be able to provide scholarship (private and public) focused at minorities desiring to succeed or have the opportunity to succeed – that is part of taking care of each other.