By Kirk Laughlin
Some students are concerned with how affirmative action policies and programs at the University of Louisville may be affected by next week’s public lecture by Ward Connerly, a black man who has opposed affirmative action policies in states across the nation.
On March 6, at the Louis D. Brandies Law School, the U of L Federalist Society and the McConnell Center will host Connerly to speak about his views on why affirmative action should be reconsidered.
“The [organizations have] the right to bring him here to speak. It’s within their powers and an educational standpoint,” said Marchello Cavitt, President of the Society of Porters Scholars, which is a merit-based scholarship program for black U of L students.
“But as far as [Connerly’s] stance, we are completely against it. I am against it.” Cavitt said. Cavitt thinks that Connerly’s visit may play a motivating force for anti-Affirmative-Action leaders and those opposed to race-based scholarship programs.”
The university currently holds affirmative action policies that are used to “eliminate or overcome present discrimination or the present effects of past discrimination against women, minority group members and military veterans,” according to the U of L Office of Human Resources.
Law School Professor Russell Weaver, a staff sponsor of the Federalist Society, said that Connerly’s visit is “in response to a one-sided legal panel hosted in the fall called ‘Why Affirmative Action Remains a Relevant Necessity.'”
The McConnell Center is cosponsoring the event as a continuation of their lecture series, “Variety, Left and Right.” Dr. Gary Gregg, director of the McConnell Center, said “Connerly offers a different perspective on an issue with a variety of perspectives.” He said that “Connerly is a major figure that is changing public policy across the nation, for good or ill.”
Connerly and his organization, the American Civil Rights Institute, have gained a level of fame through his sponsoring of court cases and ballot initiatives that have restricted or banned affirmative action policies in several states across the country.
The most recent of Connerly’s efforts have been the Jennifer Gratz case at the University of Michigan, and the 2006 vote banning Affirmative-Action policies in Michigan. Similar votes, with the ACRI supporting them, have been successful in California and Washington.
Last month, at the University of Southern California, student protestors belonging to multiple minority student organizations protested during a keynote address by Connerly.
According to Cavitt, “there are no planned protests” of the Connerly visit to U of L. But he added that “some students may protest independently.”
“We’ve encouraged for all scholars to show up and ask questions,” Cavitt said. In late January, he had launched an awareness campaign as a way to educate Porter Scholars on affirmative action, Ward Connerly and his positions.
“Most people have read it, they’re aware of him coming. And they completely disagree with him,” said Cavitt. “I’m sure that’s the overall view, they disagree with his beliefs.”
John Waits, a junior history major, said “Though I believe in Affirmative-Action policies, I see no harm in discussing the issues. His contribution to the debate might benefit the issue, not detract from it.”
“Affirmative action is agreeable in principal, but the necessity of it has been lowered due to the progress of society since its implementation,” said Freshman Ally Bruener, a political science major.
Dr. Ricky Jones, director of the pan-African studies department at U of L, said, “My department has no issue with the Connerly visit [and] it should open the door for discourse on some really troubling issues in the city, state and country.”
Jones went on to say that he personally “disagrees with most of Mr. Connerly’s thoughts and initiatives, especially with regard to race. However, as a premier university it is incumbent upon us to provide opportunities to critically engage different points of view.”
