As University debate continues over the use of race as a factor in admissions, some students are mobilizing to show support for affirmative action.
Leaders of Advocates for Diversity in Education are planning a University-wide organizational meeting Thursday to show support for the administration's current admissions policy.
The student activist group was formed last year in response to attacks made on race-based aspects of the University's admissions policy by the Center for Equal Opportunity and the Center for Individual Rights. Both organizations criticized the University for favoring black students unfairly in its admissions process.
Fourth-year College student Stephanie Taylor, one of the leaders of Advocates for Diversity, said the meeting will serve as a jumping-off point for a student campaign to preserve the University's current admissions policies.
"We're trying to promote unity and cohesion between the various efforts to save affirmative action here," Taylor said. "There are a lot of faculty and students who are concerned about this matter."
Fellow organizer Deva Woodly, a third-year College student, said she is worried by what she sees as a move away from affirmative action.
"The reason we reconvened is because the Board of Visitors seems to be getting more and more aggressive in their efforts to remove race as a factor in admissions," Woodly said.
The controversy stems from a proposed summer program to expose middle and high school minority students to various facets of University life.
The program is advocated by Board member Terence P. Ross, who heads a special Board committee charged with investigating the role of race in the University's admissions policies.
Some activists worry the new program will replace the University's current use of race as a factor in admissions.
Third-year Education student Jenny Johnson, another student organizer, said the issue requires a joint effort on behalf of students, administrators, faculty and alumni.
"The issue at hand is too important for us as a student body to go into without a unified and organized center," Johnson said.
At last night's Student Council meeting, Faculty Senate Chairman David T. Gies urged Council to take a stand on the affirmative action issue. Gies said the Faculty Senate is supporting University President John T. Casteen III's pro-affirmative action stance.
"We support the statements and position he has articulated," he said.
As students began organizing this week, City Council representatives announced their support for Councilman Maurice Cox, who is drafting a resolution that expresses the city's support for the University's use of race as a factor in admissions.
"My feeling is that the diversity that characterizes the University's admissions policies ultimately strengthen the city," Cox said.
Charlottesville Mayor Virginia Daugherty said the City Council could give the University input from the community via the resolution.
"We can reflect community opinion back to the University," Daugherty said. "We can offer support for their very excellent admissions program which is respected across the nation."
Councilman Blake Caravati agreed with Daugherty, saying the city had a vested interest in a diverse student body.
Caravati said minority students play a large role as mentors for city youths.
He said the city relies on the University as a recruiting ground for black teachers, businesspeople and government employees.
The Council resolution will be considered at its Oct. 4 meeting.
Cavalier Daily Associate Editor Margaret Chipowsky contributed to this story.
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