The mild weather provided a perfect setting Thursday for
the campus community to gather in front of the Student Center as President
Susan A. Cole declared "Affirmative Action Day" and an official
flag was raised marking the occasion.
At the ceremony, Tina Jacobowitz of Literacy and Educational Media, who
chairs the President's Commission on Affirmative Action, explained the
significance of the commission and its purpose. "There is no question
in our minds that affirmative action works in bettering our society,"
she said. The commission, she added, is designed to represent every constituency
on campus, and works to raise the consciousness on campus about issues
of equity, social justice and equal opportunity.
Montclair State has been following a case involving the University of
Michigan regarding its admissions processes. In 2000, the Federal District
Court in Detroit upheld the university's Affirmative Action program, ruling
that diversity is a critical component of higher education because it
benefits all students, not just minority ones. However, the ruling is
now being challenged by the Center for Individual Rights and the Supreme
Court will hear the case April 1.
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| Lisa Kasper of Admissions listens to the discussion regarding Affirmative Action. |
If the decision goes against the University of Michigan,
all higher education institutions' practices will be threatened. "We
know that higher education is one of the best pathways to raise socioeconomic
status," explained Jacobowitz. "Ending affirmative action in
college admissions will lower the chances of poor and minority students
to improve the quality of their lives. Poor and minority students, particularly
those who grow up in urban centers, are more likely to have less-qualified
teachers in their public schooling. They come to the college admissions
process with disadvantages not of their own making. Affirmative action
can rectify this long-standing inequity."
Following the ceremony a roundtable discussion was held in the Student
Center with a panel that included Barbara Milton of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative
Action, Norma Connelly of Legal Studies, Michael Brown of Educational
Opportunity Programs; Lisa Kasper of Admissions and Kim O'Halloran of
the Graduate School.
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| Kim O'Halloran of the Graduate School was part of the roundtable discussion during Affirmative Action Day. |
During the discussion, Kasper addressed Montclair State's
position regarding admissions and recruitment. "We offer affordable,
quality education accessible to everyone," she said. "We don't
need specific initiatives because they come to us. We base our decisions
on transcripts, recommendations and essays. That's what we're looking
at -- academic performance."
The consensus among participants is that the key to success is promoting
diversity, among students as well as faculty. "One of the best forms
of advertising is word of mouth," said Brown. "As long as we
can create and maintain a positive campus environment for students of
color, we will keep them coming and maintain the diversity we have."
"There is a need to have more of an emphasis on recruiting and retaining
faculty of color," added Connolly, for students to feel comfortable
on campus once they're here.
Milton said regardless of the University of Michigan outcome, institutions
are going to have to take a lead role. "Dr. Cole is committed to
affirmative action," she said. "It is important for us to continue
to ensure diversity."