c
JULIE WIENER
StaffWriter
Testy Case
on both sides and ensure that the
debate remains respectful, said Chopp,
who is also an editor of Consider.
ince two white students filed a
Her personal view is somewhere in
lawsuit accusing the University
the middle.
of Michigan of discriminatory
"I understand that it's necessary to
admissions procedures, the
have some form of affirmative action
campus has been engulfed in debate
because of racial discrimination that
, 2,over affirmative action.
starts way before college. I don't think
And while many Jewish students,
it should be solely based on race, but
faculty and administrators are actively
on socioeconomic class. I believe in
engaged in the controversy, there is by
dent of Ann Arbor's Beth Israel
Michael Brooks, U-M's Hillel direc-
affirmative action, but a modified ver-
no means a "what's good for the Jews"
Congregation.
tor, said the lawsuit is provoking
sion," she said.
position on the issue. Instead, Jews are
Laurence Deitch, a U-M regent and
thoughtful discussion on campus, with
First-year law student Daniel Harold
staking claims on all sides of the case,
Southfield attorney, sharply disagrees
the student government putting togeth-
is more critical of affirmative action,
which will likely be a national test case
with Cohen. "I think that this lawsuit
er a symposium and Hillel's opinion
but is careful to distinguish himself
on affirmative action.
is part of an organized effort by people
magazine, Consider, planning a special
from those whose opinions are colored
The white, non-Jewish plaintiffs,
who would like to create a less inclusive
issue addressing the topic.
by "racist tendencies."
Jennifer Gratz and Patrick Hamacher,
society," he said. "We will defend our
According to Brooks, Jews are "all
"U-M has a strong minority pres-
assert that while they were denied
policy vigorously, which we believe
over the map" on the subject of affir-
ence, and their admissions policies as
admission to U-M, minority students
comports with the law."
mative action because it raises dilem-
they stand now are geared more toward
with comparable credentials were
Deitch, former president of Temple
mas that he describes as almost talmu-
the quota approach than to ending dis-
accepted. The Center for Individual
Beth El and active in Detroit area Jewish
dic.
crimination," said Harold.
Rights (CIR), the national pub-
Al though he believes
lic interest law firm that last
important
mportant to take an
year successfully challenged
I applicant's background
affirmative action policies in
and extenuating factors
Texas state schools, is arguing
"I; into account, Harold
CD their case.
believes that skin color
As evidence, the CIR is using
should not be the only
university documents obtained
determinant of diversity,
through a Michigan Freedom of
nor the only special fac-
Information Act request that U-
tor considered.
M philosophy professor Carl
Like others, Harold is
Cohen submitted. The docu-
concerned that reversing
ments reveal that although other
the university's admis-
factors are taken into account as
sions policies may result
well, the university accepts lower
±' in a more racially
-test scores and grade point aver-
T., homogenous campus.
ages for minority applicants
"But the problem with
than white students.
the flip side of this is that
While no longer directly
it's equally discriminatory
involved in the lawsuit, Cohen
just to admit students
is an ardent critic of the univer-
based on their back-
sity's admissions policies, which
ground or race," he said.
he feels violates the equal pro-
No Jewish organiza-
tection clause of the 14th
tions have taken official
._ Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
organizations, believes that promoting
"It's one of these issues
positions on the case,
Left: Professor Carl
A faculty member since 1955,
diversity should be a goal of the Jewish
where there are two very right
although the Michigan
Cohen
Cohen, who is Jewish, stressed that he
community.
positions — it's a classic Jewish
Anti-Defamation League
is hostile neither to the university nor
"Earlier in this century, Jews were
issue," he said. "My sense is that Top: U-M Regent
is in the process of adopt-
minority students. In fact, he says, it is
denied access to elite private institu-
Laurence Deitch
most Jews in this community
ing one. "In terms of
his longtime hatred of racism — fos-
tions, and it was places like U-M that
find the notion of quotas or
diversity in student body,
Above: Freshman
tered by a childhood in segregated
enabled talented Jews to make signifi-
admissions decisions based on
we don't generally believe
Florida — that spurred him to action.
cant contributions to our society,"
skin color or any particular back- Sarah Chopp
race should be a factor in
"I think a diverse student body and
Deitch said. "It's important not to for-
ground invidious, and at the same time
admissions, but we do support
faculty is a very appropriate objective
get where we've come from and to rec-
I believe most people feel it would be
increased recruitment and college pre-
`h and we're right to seek it with vigor,"
ognize that building a diverse and
intolerable to not have a sizable repre-
paredness in schools," said Michigan
he said. "But that doesn't mean you can
inclusive society builds a better
sentation of minority groups on cam-
ADL Director Don Cohen.
use any instrument you please. I sup-
America, and that's good for the Jews."
pus."
However, Cohen added that the
port outreach, broad recruitment and
Although Jews do not directly bene-
Sarah Chopp, a freshman from
ADL does support some forms of affir-
systems of support for those that are
fit from affirmative action policies,
Southfield, is one of the students orga-
mative action and is concerned that the
economically disadvantaged. I don't
which classify Ashkenazi Jews with
nizing the Nov. 17-20 symposium.
debate will heighten racial tensions on
know exactly what we should do, but I
other whites, Jews still comprise more
With the lawsuit threatening to exacer-
campus. "In many instances [opposi-
know what we should not do: discrimi-
than 20 percent of the university's stu-
bate racial tensions on campus, the
tion to affirmative action] is a cover for
nate by race." Cohen is a former presi-
dents and faculty.
symposium aims to educate students
negative attitudes based on race." ❑
S
Jews on the U-M campus are divided
over affirmative action lawsuit.
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11/7
1997
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