OPINION Friday, May 23, 1986 Page 6 The Michigan Daily Vol. XCVI, No. 3-S 96 Years of Editorial Freedom Unsigned editorials represent the majority views of the Daily's Editorial Board Cartoons and signed editorials do not necessarily reflect the Daily's opinion. An inconsistent action Severe sanctions THE SUPREME Court's ruling Monday that it is uncon- stitutional to give minorities preference in lay-offs only under- mines established affirmative action programs. The Court's 5-4 decision favored a group of white teachers in Jackson, Michigan, who filed suit against the Jackson school board when they, in- stead of blacks with less seniority, were laid off. The school board's ac- tion was part of an affirmative action program to maintain an equal ratio of minority faculty members to minority students, as well as to com- pensate for prior discrimination against minorities by the school system. The teachers claimed they were denied equal protection under the law by being laid off because of their race. They also argued that such an action was unconstitutional, citing lack of evidence of past discrimination against blacks in the Jackson school district. Despite the Court's support of the white teachers' case, dissension was significant. The majority dissent, written by Justice Thurgood Mar- shall, stated that the gains brought about by affirmative action hiring programs must be protected, and that racial preference in lay-offs is an effective way of doing this. Ironically, the constitutionality of basic affirmative action aims, previously determined by the Supreme Court, was also reinforced in this case. The Court rejected the Justice Department's position that the Constitution prohibits gover- nments from using any preferences in employment. In order to realize affirmative ac- tion goals, as endorsed by the Court, the school system must retain black teachers. It is pointless to increase the percentage of black faculty through affirmative action hiring programs if these teachers cannot be guaranteed a future in the system. Members of society must be held accountable for past injustices in or- der to end a long-standing cycle of discrimination. Consistent affir- mative action programs in hiring and lay-offs would insure an overdue minority representatione in education. S OUTH AFRICA'S raid on three of its neighbors this week demon- strates the necessity for immediate U.S. actions against South Africa's apartheid system. The targets of the attacks were headquarters and offices of the African National Congress in Bot- swana, Zambodia, and Zimbabwe. The ANC, a group opposing South Africa's apartheid regime, has been outlawed by the government. Because the targets were non- military, the attack served only as a means for South Africa to intimidate those countries providing refuge for the ANC. Such violent action damages the possibility for negotiated change which South Africanblacks and the world have been waiting for. The U.S. policy of "constructive engagement" has given legitimacy to South African brutality. Botha's government has demonstrated a lack of interest in pursuing reform which would require it to transfer some authority to blacks. After six years of working "behind the scenes," U.S. diplomats have nothing to show for its efforts. A more effective U.S. response would involve strong economic san- ctions, such as those recently proposed in the House of Represen- tatives. The legislation would ban all new investment in South Africa and American bank loans to South African businesses, among other ac- tions. In the cases of Libya and Nicaragua, the Reagan adminis- tration has invoked terrorism as a justification for sanctions against countries which practice it. That arguement is applicable to South Africa, which has terrorized its neighbors and oppresses the blacks. Severe sanctions would be damaging to an already-sluggish South African economy and would put some force behind U.S. policy. - Breaking diplomatic ties would also be an effective way in which to show American disapproval. The United States previously recalled its ambassador in June 1985 after a South African attack on Botswana. Recalling the ambassador would demonstrate to the whites of South Africa that U.S. support it con- ditional, and that diplomatic ties cannot be maintained without evidence of reform. The only way to avoid a violent revolution in South Africa is for the government to begin good faith negotiations with the ANC. Hardline economics and diplomatic pressure on the South African government is the political trump card that the United States should play. Wasserman Selective justice O NE OF Ann Arbor's City At- torney's has decided not to press charges against the assailant who at- tacked the Diag shanty on May 1. Such a decision is not surprising, in that it was made by the same man who prosecuted students for protesting Carl Purcell's support of the contra aid bill. The city attorney has chosen to stifle and punish some voices while ignoring the criminal ac- ts of others. On May 1, Campus Security obser- ved a man trying to damage the Diag shanty, built by the Free South African Coordinating Committee to increase, coniioni4.awareness about apartheid injustices. The suspect was followed to the North Thayer parking complex and sub- sequently arrested. As is normal procedure in such in- stances, Campus Security turned the case over to the District Attorney's office for action. District Attorney Ron Plunkett, however, dismissed charges of property damage, despite receipts from the Free South African Coordinating Committee demon- strating the value of the wood used to build the shanty. Activists on this campus often feel that the system works against them. In this case, they are correct. IA GIVE YOU )TIDE -NEW~.LY- INDICTED) 2F' iT\ UNION !! n"~~ i gas I114t'