A panel of minority students discussed the value of affirmative action last night in an event that drew approximately 30 students.
The Oregon Students of Color Coalition held the discussion, which was billed as a workshop to educate students on issues of minority access and advancement. It was held in the EMU Fir Room in conjunction with National Take Affirmative Action Day.
Senior Brenda Sifuentez said that affirmative action is only a small part of the solution to larger problems of racial and gender inequality.
“Affirmative action is not going to solve anything on its own,” she said, adding that more programs are needed to address “institutional racism” throughout society.
Jamilia Taylor, a second-year law student, objected to attempts in the media to portray affirmative action as an issue that solely affects whites and blacks. She said that ignoring the impact of affirmative action on other minorities is an attempt to “divide and conquer.”
“If you’re not black and you’ve been discriminated against, you know how it feels,” she said.
Taylor and Sifuentez emphasized that affirmative action programs are necessary because United States society has not yet achieved equal representation.
Babach Lau, a second-year law student, agreed with his fellow panelists that discrimination still exists and affirmative action programs can be valuable, but he offered a skeptical perspective throughout the evening.
Lau said he was disappointed by the results achieved so far by affirmative action programs, adding that the problem is greater than minority access to employment and college admissions.
“I wish I could see more progress,” he said. “I think it is a lot deeper than admissions; many minority students come from underfunded education.”
Penny Daugherty, director of the Office of Affirmative Action, began the evening by attempting to debunk common myths about affirmative action. She informed the audience about affirmative action law and University policy regarding employment.
She said that affirmative action law does not permit quotas. Instead, employers can create goals of minority inclusion.
“A goal is a target that an employer can reach given every good faith effort,” she said.
Sharitha McKenzie, a senior who attended the discussion, found Daugherty’s explanation of the difference between a goal and quota interesting.
“I liked hearing about the legal basis for affirmative action,” she said.
Mai Vang, co-director of the OSCC, was pleased with the panelists but wished more students would have attended.
She added that the program was open to students from all political viewpoints on affirmative action, and the OSCC attempted to
find panelists who opposed affirmative action.
“It was an open discussion,” she said. “We did attempt to get the other side, but we did attempt to keep things on the positive side for affirmative action.”

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