A measure on the November ballot to eliminate state affirmative action practices could affect minority outreach programs at ASU.
If passed, Proposition 107 would end “preferential treatment” practices in Arizona in regard to public employment, public education and public contracting.
Supporters of the measure say it will curb “reverse discrimination,” while opponents say it will restrict opportunities for minorities.
“It will hurt our state by eliminating critical programs that help women and minorities excel,” said Alessandra Soler-Meetze, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Arizona. “It will really handicap our ability to compete internationally in terms of science and technology by prohibiting the state from offering any outreach programs for women or people of color.”
ASU’s Summer Bridge program could be eliminated, Meetze said. The program offers incoming freshmen an opportunity to take general education classes during the summer before they begin college, and gives strong consideration to “students who are members of groups historically underrepresented in higher education,” according to the program’s website.
If the measure passes, opponents worry the program may no longer be able to make that distinction.
But Jennifer Gratz, a director with the American Civil Rights Coalition, says the program would not be eliminated, though it wouldn’t be allowed to favor students from underrepresented groups.
The coalition helped pass similar laws in California, Washington, Florida and Michigan.
Statistics on student admission to the University of California system show a sharp decrease in the number of students from minority backgrounds following the passage of their law in 1996 banning affirmative action programs.
“That tells us just how much racial preferences are used in admissions,” Gratz said. “There was a drop in enrollment immediately after the law passed, but enrollment is up at all 12 campuses.”
Gratz said the government should treat everyone equally based on his or her merit and character, rather than gender or race.
“I don’t believe in reverse discrimination,” Gratz said. “Discrimination is discrimination, no matter who it’s against.”
The measure was sponsored by state Rep. Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park, who could not be reached for comment.
Nancy Russo, co-principal investigator of ASU’s CareerWISE, a program that researches the challenges for women in the sciences and provides them with resilience training, said people don’t always realize what affirmative action involves.
“It’s not reverse discrimination,” Russo said. “It’s meant to create a level playing field for people that come from diverse backgrounds, and give them opportunities that will develop their full potential.”
ASU associate law professor Zachary Kramer said one example of an affirmative action practice would be if a school has a certain number of freshmen they can admit, the institution would reserve spots solely for minority students or would choose a minority student over an equally qualified non-minority.
“Certain groups were discriminated against in the past, so the government can now pave the way for these groups to have access by giving them preferential treatment or access,” Kramer said. “The argument against it is that it is discrimination.”
If passed, the law would only apply to public programs that receive government funding, and not groups that receive funding from private sources.
Health sciences freshman Sarah Albietz said she had mixed feelings about the proposal to eliminate affirmative action in the state.
“Academics should come first, but also ASU is a really diverse community,” Albietz said. “People would be upset if ASU became less diverse.”
Journalism senior Iain Woessner said he is against affirmative action.
“It was a good idea that has long since run its course,” he said. “Kids who get into college should be there because they earned it and not because of affirmative action.”
Kevin Salcido, ASU’s associate chief human resource officer, said no hiring practices at the University would be changed if the law passes.
ASU is a federal contractor, which means the school must comply with all federal affirmative action requirements, he said.
“We have to demonstrate that no hiring programs are preferential to any specific group and complete an affirmative action plan every year,” Salcido said.
ASU’s enrollment practices will also remain unchanged, said Kent Hopkins, vice provost for enrollment management.
“All students, of all races and backgrounds, are eligible for admissions to ASU based on meeting high school or transfer academic performance indicators,” Hopkins said. “Any potential changes will not be of impact to admissions and enrollment at ASU.”
Polls open on November 2.
Reach the reporter at ymgonzal@asu.edu
