The Affirmative Action Debate

May 1, 2003

The North Oakland Republican Club held a debate on affirmative action at the Deer Lake Conference Center, Thursday, May 1, 2003.

Participating in the debate were professors Dr. Carl Cohen of the University of Michigan and Dr. Robert Sedler of Wayne State University. Each professor began the debate with a persuasive 20-minute opening statement. Dr. Cohen expounded, with great passion, on the ideals that motivated his involvement as the catalyst that brought the present race preference case before the Supreme Court of the United States. Professor Sedler vigorously conveyed the importance of affirmative action as the key component to achieving diversity on college campuses all across America.

Professor Cohen passionately argued his belief that affirmative action promotes simple racial preference and does not, in any true sense, achieve diversity, except perhaps by shear numbers within groups. In 1995, Professor Cohen reviewed the admissions policies of the University of Michigan and found what he saw as a disturbing trend. African Americans were granted admissions to the University of Michigan with lower grades and test scores than Caucasian American applicants with higher grades and test scores. In his address to the Club, Dr. Cohen asserted that everyone should have an equal opportunity for a quality college education regardless of race, color, sex, creed or national origin. He believes the process should be colorblind. The University of Michigan policy incorporates a point scale that gives a 20 percent increase to applicants of certain minority groups.

Professor Sedler firmly asserted that affirmative action is necessary to promote diversity and is the best alternative for giving minorities a stake in the American economic system. Dr. Sedler noted that the audience was predominantly Caucasian, and many of the attendees may have been the beneficiaries of programs that benefited primarily to Caucasians in education and employment over the years. Dr. Sedler emphasized the changing face of America that makes it imperative the country must begin to accommodate the growing population and political influence of the expanding minority populations.

Dr. Cohen expressed his observation that these programs only serve to divide the various groups and that these programs have lead to further segregation and alienation of racial or ethnic groups in the university setting. Dr. Cohen stated, “…that there is a stigmatization of the members of the groups that receive these preferences, and that the other students aren’t sure if they actually have pulled their weight or met the same requirements as the students who did not receive preferences.” He continued, “…many Caucasian and Asian students feel that the African Americans, or other preferred minorities, received special consideration due to the color of their skin and that more qualified Caucasians or Asians were disqualified because of their race or ethnicity.” Dr. Cohen pounded the table to emphasize, “…it is a travesty to those minorities who did meet the same requirements, but are viewed with the expectation that they didn’t measure up to the same standard.”

Neil Munro moderated the debate. Mr. Munro kept the debate paced to generate a great many pointed and impassioned questions and comments. Most of the audience remained after the debate to take advantage of the opportunity to ask the speakers additional questions and further explore this ongoing and controversial issue.


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