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This week’s blog reel touches on several different topics, including a few international sources for perspective. The debates over Utah and the UC school’s still continue and largely remain unchanged. Here you’ll find a few updates about the status of minorities, the merit debate, societal division, and redress for wrongs.

–Sarah Spiker

New Studies

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/03/07/whos_still_biased/?page=3

• Examines diversity and bias in corporate America
• Diversity practices should be made so no one feels “targeted”

Women

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/08/business/global/08manage.html?scp=2&sq=women%20still%20lag%20in%20pay&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/06/world/europe/06iht-ffscience.html

• Women still lag in pay compared to men
• 60% of companies surveyed did not have affirmative action policies
• Women underrepresented in corporate positions
• Second article focuses on the success of women in science/math based fields, but still highlights the pay discrepancy on a global scale

Socioeconomic status v. Minority Status

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2010/03/137777.htm

http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page292681?oid=471969&sn=2009+Detail+no+image&pid=287226

• Although Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concedes that affirmative action has done good, she notes that focusing on class is a better alternative
• She also notes that “we have ended overt discrimination”
• Second article: “Affirmative action is politically unnecessary, economically irrational and morally unjust.”
• Affirmative action has failed to bring African Americans out of poverty and raised their socioeconomic status
• Numerous countries prove the unsuccessful nature of AA policies

Affirmative Action v. Merit Based Debate

http://www.weekendpost.co.za/opinion/article.aspx?id=538374

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/875158/-/wj7dmd/-/

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-political-commentary/2010/03/politics-of-diversity-just-another-form-of-racism.html

• Although this first article is based out of South Africa, the debate is the same

• Supports arguments that affirmative action leads to stereotyping
• Affirmative action alone is not enough
• Divisive ideas, like affirmative action, do not benefit society because they cause separation at the expense of unity
• Inclusion and dignity require evaluation on the basis of merit, not skin color

Updates on the State Affirmative Action Debate

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_14499478

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/03/04/18639573.php

• Bans on affirmative action have led to classism, racism, and unfair practices in education
• Be wary of the author on the second article (Socialist Party, Ohio Senate candidate). Party affiliations shouldn’t immediately discredit the author because he does make some good logical points.
• Good statistics on minority dropout rates and success

Liberia v. United States

http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/5014

• Here, the author draws parallels from the US affirmative action movement and applies them to Liberia
• The rhetoric can easily be incorporated into your own speech. Wording is important in Public Forum. “Hand up” instead of “hand out.”
• The article also poises an interesting idea: if we were to employ the now unemployed working class, tax revenue would increase and the country would prosper. Since minorities tend to be disadvantaged more frequently, wouldn’t ensuring employment for these individuals increase the tax base? This idea could be an interesting jumping point for an argument I haven’t heard before.

Schools

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0415563320100305

http://www.michigancitizen.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=8373&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1070&hn=michigancitizen&he=.com

• After their affirmative action ban, UC fee increases have made it difficult for minority students
• University of Michigan enrollment dropped 35% for minorities; graduation rates are down 50%
• Wayne State’s medical school saw a 60% drop in minority students.

Legal

http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=8c04ea3c-53bd-48b0-8d18-b75c3b48e033

http://tribstar.com/news/x1044625480/Unions-speak-out-at-Council-meeting

• Once again, this first article comes from South Africa. However, the rhetoric is once again quite good.
• Affirmative action is not an “absolute shield”
• Affirmative action policies have created potential “deal breakers” in contracts preventing contracts from being completed

Nixon Conspiracy Against Affirmative Action

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/03/03/would-tavis-smileys-black-agenda-help-the-black-community/

• This article argues that when Nixon signed a bill supporting affirmative action, he did it with the intent of stirring up dissent
• Affirmative action is used as a tool to incite white anger and backlash against Blacks
• More harm than good? Take a look for yourself: “the Black community was bamboozled into making the biggest political mistake in modern history – allowing AA to be based on race rather than need.”
• Minorities who achieve high ranking jobs as a result of AA are now forced into “slavery”
• This evidence is flaming, but represents a unique take on Affirmative action. And the rhetoric gives you fairly good ways to prove greater harm.

Immigrants

http://www.ilw.com/articles/2010,0303-woods.shtm

• Immigrants receive AA benefits “at the expense of others”
• This article examines immigration policies and policies that favor these immigrants and give them special advantages.

Making up for Discrimination

http://trueslant.com/paultullis/2010/03/05/pentagon-gunman-another-right-wing-terrorist/

• “redress 336 years of slavery, government-backed ghettoization, and disenfranchisement”
• The argument that is briefly mentioned about ghettoization is one I’ve never heard. It would be interesting to evaluate the harms associated with ghettos and how affirmative action policies have the potential to do great good in eliminating ghettos and minority-based socio-economically depressed areas

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