Affirmative Action Debated

Law Professors Robert Nagel and Melissa Hart, along with School of Education Professor Michele Moses and political consultant Brad Jones, debated on Affirmative Action last night at CU-Boulder. The 2-hour panel discussion, titled "Affirmative Action: Institutionalizing or Eliminating Racism?" is part of a series of discussion forums on current topics sponsored by University Libraries.

The panelists discussed the role of affirmative action and other policies designed to address the historical legacy of racism and segregation, whether it is the role of government to "level the playing field," and if such policies are both effective and fair. There was also a lively debate about what schools like CU are in fact doing right now in terms of considering race or gender in their admissions and hiring processes.

Panelists briefly discussed Initiative #31 and Initiative #61, the two alternative ballot measures that have been proposed for inclusion on Colorado's ballot in November 2008. Initiative #31 seeks to ban all "preferential treatment" by the state and mirrors initiatives that have passed in California, Michigan, and Washington in recent years. Initiative #61 seeks to offer a Colorado alternative that will eliminate illegal preferential treatment, but preserve the state's authority to offer modest equal opportunity programs consistent with the U.S. Constitution.