University faculty discussed the timely and contentious issue of affirmative action in college admissions last night during a panel discussion held in Wilson Hall.
Panelists included Politics Professors Ned Moomaw and Gerard Alexander, Law Prof. Kim Forde-Mazrui and Dean of African-American Affairs M. Rick Turner.
Asst. Religious Studies Prof. Corey Walker moderated the discussion, titled "Exploring the Issues of Affirmative Action."
Turner said he supported affirmative action as a means to counteract racial discrimination.
"Given the history of this country, it is a virtual certainty that racial and sexual discrimination would return with a vengeance" without affirmative action, Turner said.
Moomaw also expressed support for affirmative action, on the grounds that racial diversity benefits students in an academic environment. He cited legal briefs from former heads of military service academies that described the perceived benefits of affirmative action.
"They could not prepare as good an officer corps if they didn't have affirmative action," he said.
Alexander, a self-proclaimed skeptic of affirmative action, said supporters of the policy often ignore its associated costs, including the costs to other students who are denied admissions because of racial preferences.
"There are people who aren't at this school today who are bright, interesting people who would bring other kinds of diversity," Alexander said.
The panel discussion comes on the heels of arguments before the Supreme Court April 1 on Gratz and Grutter v. Bollinger, two cases that may determine the fate of affirmative action in higher education.
In the cases, Jennifer Gratz, a rejected University of Michigan undergraduate applicant, and Barbara Grutter, a rejected Michigan Law School applicant, charged they were unconstitutionally denied admission as a result of affirmative action.
Forde-Mazrui, a supporter of affirmative action, said he expects the court to overturn Michigan's affirmative action policies.
Michigan's lawyers have argued their affirmative action policies are justified because they have a "compelling interest" in maintaining diversity, Forde-Mazrui said.
He added that he expects Michigan to lose the case because in previous cases the majority of justices have ruled using race to secure meaningful diversity relied on indefensible stereotypes based on race.
The court's ruling in Gratz and Grutter v. Bollinger could affect the University substantially.
The University considers race in admissions and employment, but administrators prefer not to use the term "affirmative action" when describing the University's policy.
"The University considers race and ethnicity as factors among many in its admissions process in order to build a diverse class each year," University Spokesperson Carol Wood said.
Forde-Mazrui said the University Law School's admissions policy is almost identical to Michigan's.
"If Michigan loses, that could well spell the end for affirmative action at Michigan, Virginia and all other public and private schools," Forde-Mazrui said.
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