Brewer students take aim at affirmative action policy

Editor’s Note: Student Union is written by students at Hampden Academy, Brewer High School, John Bapst Memorial High School, Old Town High School, MDI High School, Ashland Community High School and Schenck High School in East Millinocket. The weekly columns are a joint effort among the schools, the Bangor Daily News and Acadia Hospital. This column was written by Brewer High School students. Their adviser is Sherri Thomas.

New York Times editor David K. Shipler once said, “Some rough political choices lie ahead. Should affirmative action be retained? Should preference be given to people on the basis of income rather than race? Should the system be, and can it be, scrapped altogether?” We cannot pretend to predict the future. However, Shipler was correct in his assumption that many political choices lie ahead of us. President Bush recently spoke out against affirmative action, and we, as students at Brewer High School, feel that now is the appropriate time to address this very delicate topic.

In his remarks, President Bush referred to the University of Michigan’s affirmative action or “point system.” For those of you who are not aware, the undergraduate admission process at Michigan involves a point system whereby African-American, Hispanic and American Indian applicants earn 20 points (out of a 150-point system) solely on the basis of race. For example, “If I had perfect SAT scores (1,600),” wrote a skilled essayist,” and demonstrated superior leadership skills in high school, I would only generate 18 points. However, being a minority alone would give me 20 points. How can a rational person not consider this a biased system?”

Affirmative action originally began as a series of presidential directives designed to encourage recruitment of qualified minorities and women through various programs. This old version of affirmative action would allow women and minorities to compete for jobs on a nondiscriminatory, color-blind, gender-neutral basis. However, as with most proposals in American politics, it was changed from an equal opportunity policy to a racial and gender spoils system. This change was brought about by the execution of policies by judges, affirmative action brought about in a behind-the-scenes manner, the failure of media to focus on the issue, and the fear of being called racist or sexist.

Many major news centers are unwilling to touch upon the subject of “reverse discrimination,” especially if it is linked to affirmative action. These media giants are worried that they will be slapped with a lawsuit. Too many people believe that if they speak out, as we are doing, they will be similarly labeled. “60 Minutes” did a segment describing the hiring of hundreds of incompetent, and even illiterate, teachers in the New York City public school system. Throughout this broadcast, news broadcaster Mike Wallace fails to mention that affirmative action might have provided some rationale for the hiring process.

Woven into the social framework of America is a desire to be mainstream. No one wishes to oppose such a biased program as affirmative action for fear of being labeled a bigot or chauvinist. Some might, however, argue that, without affirmative action, women and minorities would not have the same opportunities as the average white male. We agree that all people should be placed on a level playing field and be given an equal opportunity.

However, the unfortunate truth is that when society appropriates an equal opportunity system, the beneficiaries will not be satisfied until they are given special rights. Now women and minorities are to be hired in proportion to their numbers in labor pools or the general population. Therefore, in today’s society, the average white male does not have the same opportunities that some minorities and women do. Affirmative action does not strive to make society the best that it can be. Rather, affirmative action is a system that breeds mediocrity.