Republicans discuss affirmative action

The initiative would ban use of certain preferential standards.

By Allie Blood

Published March 14, 2008

Discussing the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative, the Central Missouri Young Republicans welcomed MoCRI Executive Director Tim Asher on Thursday night.

Volunteers for the initiative are in the process of gathering signatures to gain a place on the ballot in November.

Asher said the initiative’s goal is to prohibit universities, businesses and government-aided scholarships from using race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin as a preferential standard.

CMYR does not formally endorse initiatives, but they advocate action in local government, CMYR President Tonya Blythe said.

Blythe said she personally supports the initiative because it supports equality in college and employment arenas.

“It would open a lot of opportunities on campus, and keep open business practices,” Blythe said.

Asher said groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the United Negro College Fund would not be affected in their scholarship programs by this law, because they are private organizations.

But governmentally aided scholarship organizations would be affected if they chose applicants based on race or ethnicity.

“This will not eliminate affirmative action,” Asher said. “Only those programs which have race attached will be affected.”

Asher said MU has publicly opposed the initiative, and also denies employing any practices that the initiative addresses.

Also in opposition are the American Civil Liberties Union and the Democratic Party.

“We always encourage diversity on campuses and across the state,” said Nate Kennedy, College Democrats of Missouri president. “We want to make sure all the voices are heard.”

In response to opponents who say affirmative action is necessary to combat the disadvantage of those in lower socio-economic situations, Asher said poverty transcends race and scholarships and opportunities will remain available based on financial need.

“We have communities in this country that are divided and suppressed based on race and sexual orientation and gender,” Kennedy said. “The Democratic Party has always worked to make sure everyone has a seat at a table.”

The initiative began with University of California Regent Ward Connerly, who proposed the California Civil Rights Initiative, which passed in 1996.

Missouri is one of five states with groups attempting to vote on this type of law.

Others include Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado and Arizona.

Other states that have passed similar laws include Washington and Michigan.

President John Kennedy created affirmative action in 1961 to give all Americans equitable treatment under the law.

“It has turned into something else,” Asher said.