With a respectful but passionate demeanor, Adam Lerman told an audience at the Law School that affirmative action is not about making reparations for past discrimination. Instead the goal is to focus on eliminating racism today.
"You would have to be blind not to see the discrimination of racism and sexism that exists in all sectors of society," Lerman said.
The setting was a panel discussion between two University law professors and three representatives from the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action and Integration and to Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), including Lerman, the group's outreach coordinator.
Panelists and the 50 students in attendance agreed that the fight for affirmative action will determine the future of this country. The audience constantly supported the panelists with nodding heads and strong applause.
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The goal of the program was to examine the legality and constitutionality of affirmative action in college admissions and to help students understand the ramifications of such policies on the University. BAMN representatives also hoped to garner support at the University in the fight to defend affirmative action.
Lerman cited race relations at the University as one reason panelists chose to voice their opinion here.
"What has happened here at U.Va. has been followed closely by BAMN," Lerman said.
Last year, race relations at the University became more prominent when Board of Visitors member Terence P. Ross raised the issue of affirmative action, saying the University is "clearly in some cases reaching a little bit down our academic standards to recruit black students."
"This university can be central" to the fight, said Lerman. The battle for affirmative action "is about the future direction of this country."
The discussion last night focused primarily on the pending lawsuits at the University of Michigan.
In 1997, two cases were initiated against Michigan, challenging the use of affirmative action in the admissions process to the law school and the College of Literature, Science & the Arts.
Second-year Law student Jit Chatterjee said the discussion "will reinvigorate interest" in race issues.
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