Regents oppose affirmative-action ban

By MELISSA LEE / Lincoln Journal StarSaturday, Jan 19, 2008 - 12:33:09 am CST

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents on Friday gave its unanimous disapproval to a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution that would ban affirmative action in public education and employment.The amendment, which will appear on November ballots if supporters gather enough petition signatures, would end the use of racial, gender and ethnic preferences by public colleges and state agencies.If passed, it could have a dangerous effect on university programs and practices that aim to diversify the campuses, NU officials warned.Scholarships for minority students, women’s commissions, minority recruitment efforts and numerous other programs could be at risk, they said.“And I worry as much about the symbolism as the petition itself,” University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman said. “It sends a message that Nebraskans don’t care about diversity.”The initiative is led by Ward Connerly, a California businessman who has successfully spearheaded similar efforts in Washington, Michigan and his home state.Nebraska is one of five states being targeted by Connerly this year. The others are Arizona, Colorado, Missouri and Oklahoma.In Nebraska, supporters need to gather about 115,000 voter signatures by July 4. They’re confident they will do so, and that voters will pass the measure in November.“Nebraskans are fair-minded people,” said Doug Tietz, executive director of the Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative, which supports Connerly’s mission.“They know that people shouldn’t be judged by what they look like. It’s as simple as that.” [To read the entire story, go to: http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2008/01/19/news/local/doc479141ace1af2220758886.txt]