Thursday, October 22, 1998
Faculty members organize walkout
PROTEST: Events held in support of revival of affirmative action
policy
By Andy Shah
Daily Bruin Contributor
UCLA faculty, outraged over the effects of the repeal of
affirmative action, joined colleagues from other colleges across
the country Wednesday in walking out of their classes in support of
the policy.
Many professors and teaching assistants (TAs) held their classes
in Royce Quad to support the protest, while others spoke at a forum
at noon in the newly renovated Meyerhoff Park.
"It’s important to indicate that the base of support (for
affirmative action) is larger than students," said Richard
Yarborough, professor of English and director of the Center for
African American Studies. "Faculty members bring a certain level of
credibility to the cause."
Some faculty who held their classes outside proceeded with their
regular curriculum, while others used the class time to discuss
issues of diversity and affirmative action.
"We had a great discussion about what people were saying about
affirmative action," said Rachel Lee, professor of English and
women’s studies, who taught her women’s studies class in Royce
Quad.
Other faculty members said the walkouts benefited students.
"Students feel a certain kind of kinship with faculty that they
necessarily don’t with the administration," said Chris Thinnes, a
TA who taught his English class outside.
State officials wrote off the protests, saying that such actions
were pointless in nature.
"We believe this is a silly exercise," said Ron Low, Gov. Pete
Wilson’s deputy press secretary.
Low said that while diversity is "absolutely" important in
higher education, the protesters’ goals were misguided.
"Teachers and students should be working on a university that
admits students based on their ability, not the color of their
skin," Low said.
UC Regent Frank Clark agreed, calling the walkouts
"ridiculous."
"We realize the importance of diversity, but walking out won’t
change anything," Clark said.
The walkouts were initially planned as a UC-wide protest, but
many campuses nationwide also decided to hold similar protests the
same day.
In Washington, faculty and students at various campuses
mobilized against an initiative similar to Proposition 209, the
1996 measure that ended all state-sponsored affirmative action
programs in California. Washington has an initiative that will be
on its Nov. 3 ballot.
Each of the nine University of California campuses held an event
Wednesday, said Rafael Perez-Torres, professor of English
literature and walkout organizer.
"This is a long-term, broad-based strategy," Perez-Torres
said.
Also, some California state universities and colleges, as well
as private colleges, joined in. Solidarity movements were held at
Stanford and Occidental College.
At noon, faculty members gathered in Meyerhoff Park to give
speeches about the importance of affirmative action.
"The argument that affirmative action is preferential treatment
has been used against people of color for the last 125 years," said
law professor Kimberle Crenshaw.
"In 1964, some people felt that even civil rights laws were
preferential. We should not stand for it any longer," Crenshaw
said.
Crenshaw urged others not to be stigmatized because they
benefitted from affirmative action.
"We should be proud to be beneficiaries of affirmative action,"
Crenshaw said. "It doesn’t mean we’re any less qualified."
Yarborough said many faculty members have a unique perspective
on affirmative action since they fought for civil rights in the
1960s.
"A lot of faculty members fought for things like affirmative
action in the 1960s," he said.
He also spoke about his experience as the first African American
admitted to his private high school and the effects of affirmative
action on him.
"I wouldn’t have been the first one if someone, somewhere hadn’t
decided to change things," he said.
Valerie Smith, professor of English and African American
studies, said being the first African American admitted to a school
isn’t necessarily a blessing.
"There is no honor in being the first and only member of a
disenfranchised community in a mainstream society," she said.
Graduate Students Association president Joanna Brooks said that
although graduate students are not the most visible people on
campus, many still support affirmative action.
"The repeal of affirmative action doesn’t mean merit has taken
over," she said. "It means we are impoverished as grad
students."
After the meeting, faculty members met with each other to talk
about strategies for the future.
"We met to discuss future meetings and issues like outreach and
the importance of diversity to undergraduates," Perez-Torres
said.
More events are planned for today, including more walkouts and
speeches by activist Rev. Jesse Jackson and state senators Tom
Hayden and Richard Polanco, among others.
But some said the protesters’ messages were redundant.
"I tend to ignore the protests since they’re always so
repetitive," said Cavan Concannon, a second-year religious studies
student. "But this time they were more respectful and
intelligent."
Some members of the Bruin Republicans said they wouldn’t walk
out with their professors as an "indirect counter-protest," said
Melissa Bullard, Bruin Republican external vice chairwoman.
"We feel we’re being cheated out of the education we’re paying
for," she said.
DERRICK KUDO/Daily Bruin
Participants in front of Kerckhoff Hall take part in a
nationwide walkout in support of affirmative action.
Comments, feedback, problems?
© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board[Home]