Friday, December 13,1996
Page 4
Viewpoints
Affirmative action important to diversity
McLendon, Vice-President and Dean for Admissions, has been
involved with the issue of affirmative action. Special to The Clarion
Special to The Clarion
Bob McLendon, Vice-President and
Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid
at Brevard College, is the 1996
president of the CACRAO (Carolinas
Association of Collegiate Registars and
Admissions Officers) and has recently
published a column in the organization’s
newsletter. Here is an excerpt from his
article on affirmative action, which we
believe will be of interest to the students
and the greater Brevard community.
Few issues have aroused more
debate in higher education than
affirmative action. Should we eliminate
factors such as race, ethnicity, and
gender from consideration in the
admissions process? Recently, in a
lower court decision the affirmative
action plan of The University of Texas
Law School was challenged. In
California, members of the Board of
Regents voted with great fanfafe to
abolish racial affirmative action. Also,
House Bill GH.R. 2128 seeks broadly to
limit federal affirmative action
programs. I believe carefully designed
affirmative action in pursuit of campus
diversity is right and constituitional.
Supreme Court Justice, Lewis Powell
wrote in 1978; ‘Seeking diveristy in its
shident body is clearly a constituitionally
permissible goal for an institution of
higher education. ’
We should remember that
exceptions or special considerations are
made in the admissions process beyond
race and gender. For example, as the
admissions staffconsiders the pool of
applicants, consideration may be
extended to students with special talents,
such as musicians, artists, athletes,
legacies, and extraordinary experiences
with community service.
College students and professors
benefit in countiess ways from the
opportunity to live and leam among
peers whose perspectives and
experiences differe from their own. We
should be allowed to select students not
only on the basis of what they have
already achieved academically, but on
evidence of what they can contribute to
the larger society.
Neill Rudenstine, President of
Harvard, recently wrote: ‘Race
historically has been and still remains a
powerful feature on college campuses.
To say that race may be taken into
account in the admissions process
certainly does not mean that it should be
elevated above al other criteria. It does
not imply efforts to achieve quotas. It
means the applicant race may be
considered as one factor among many
considerations of a person who has the
potential to contribute something
distinctive.’
Minorities and women in this
country still face discriminatory barriers
in securing housing, credit,
employment, and in dealing with the
daily indignities that minority citizens
face in shoppmg malls, department
stores, or somethmg as basic as getting
a taxi to stop for them. Today there is
still a compelling need to remedy tlie
effects of past ans present discrimination
in society and in higher education.
American education has grown stronger
because of affirmnative action and for
the courts or the federal government to
change our course would be a mistake.
Vandalism shows lack of student maturity
Manabu Okawa
Guest Commentary
I am sick, not only physically but
mentally. A route of this sickness is
tough to identify. It might be coming
from some Captain Molligans I might
have taken. It might be coming from
the stress of my classes. Most likely,
however, the sickness is caused by the
unpredicable incidents happenmg since
the beguming of the semester.
Fortunately, we have had a lot of
suggestions brought up by you. Also,
we benefit by having an opportunity to
be able to realize these proposals. Some
are promised to be realized. Some are
still in the process. So what is the
problem? Unfortunately, something has
prevented the unprovement of our
campus life from being realized. I
believe you know what this means.
We have been saying to the college
staff and faculty, “Do not treat us like
little kids. We are in college, not in
high school.” Right!! We must have a
right to be treated as adults, as long as
we act like responsible adults. What if
our behavior is not acceptable as adults?
Do adults deliberately break anything?
Do mature adults commit vandalism?
Do responsible adults ruin the Christmas
tree?
A lot of things, such as the dance
parties, are created by the Office for
Campus Life including Twister
Productions and the SGA. Of course,
they have an obligation to provide the
students some fun and see this as a first
priority. They never expect to be
appreciated, though. The Underground
and the Gameroom which were built last
fall, for example, have been loved and
appreciated by a lot of students and
should not be threatened by any
unacceptable action. We do not want
them to be closed, do we? Anyway,
Coltrane Commons has been forced to
shut its doors early at midnight due to
the vandalism.
The SGA has been proposing a lot
of improvement, such as the fruit juice
vending machines, vacuum cleaners,
f 1
people who behave as
responsible adults are the
only people who deserve to be
treated as adults. ”
^ Ji
and 24 hour visitation. And Brevard
College administration takes it for
granted that the students will be
responsible for their own actions.
Considering what we have done
(ruined),the BC administration might not
want to give 24 hour visitation to the
students who behave like high school
students.
I know that you all did not steal
some cheap balls. I know that you all
did not ruin the Christmas tree. I know
that you did not steal money from the
coffee shop. But the fact is that
somebody at Brevard did. I hope they
are from Brevard High School since
their childish, ridiculous behaviors
might be acceptable at some high
school?
Please remember that people who
behave as responsible adults are the only
people who deserve to be treated as
adults. Otherwise, you will not get
anything. To those who have committed
vandalism, I know you must be upset
about something. Please come and
complain to me. We, the SGA, are on
your side. We are the only link between
the students and the administration.
Adults know what to do to improve our
life. My friends, I believe you are all
adults.