Guest Column

I heard a rumor in SGA last Tuesday that the College Republicans were going to stage an "affirmative action" bake sale. I found this rather amusing, until I saw it on an upcoming events flyer handed out by OSL, and still later read about it in the Carolinian. Now I think the whole thing is just hilarious.

Now what in the world could possibly be funny about affirmative action? Not everyone has the same opinion about the issue. There are some who, like our College Republicans, are opposed to it and consider it nothing more than reverse discrimination. Then there are those who feel it is necessary in our unequal society. Even still there are people who agree with both of these viewpoints, as I am one of them.

It's because of affirmative action that some businesses and universities have adopted unofficial "quota" systems, which means that they bring in a certain number of minorities to keep their federal funding. On the other side of that, minorities are offered a large number of race-specific scholarships and grants that are not open to everyone. I suppose this is what is being objected to by the College Republicans' bake sale.

I, for one, agree with the opinion that affirmative action is reverse discrimination. Instead of keeping minorities out based on color, institutions and businesses bring them in because of it. That certainly isn't fair to those who happen to be born a different race than what the powers-that-be are looking for, right? Yes, in a certain perspective it is a very racist concept indeed. But let's not forget that affirmative action works both ways. For example, at a historically black college, believe it or not, white students can land a full scholarship simply because THEY are now the minority. In essence, affirmative action isn't about what race or sex you are, but rather what you AREN'T.

Let's also not forget the reason affirmative action is here; because for a long time minorities weren't hired simply because of their skin color, or because their name wasn't "John Smith" on their resume or application; because women weren't considered serious components of the workforce; because even now being a minority race is the first thing people see when you walk in to an interview or apply for a loan. Face it, the fact of the matter is that being a white male grants more opportunities than being a black (or Hispanic, or Native American, etc.) anything, and until that changes, until discrimination itself has completely died out, affirmative action is here to stay.

Of course there are those white supremacists who oppose affirmative action simply because they feel minorities are just looking for handouts and play the race card every chance they get. Well, I'm sure that there are some who do, not because they're lazy bums, but because in some very common situations, that's the only way they'll get recognized for their hard work and effort. Remember, minorities didn't institute affirmative action, nor should they shy away from an opportunity they may be granted because of it. Affirmative action is a reflection not of the people who benefit from it, but of the society that needs to enforce it.

But that isn't to say that those who reap the so-called advantages of the policy can't spread the wealth. For instance, if black women, the "luckiest" recipients of the bake sale's slanted prices, lined up and made the purchases for everybody else who wanted a cookie, be they White, Hispanic, or male, then the policy benefits all. It may not be that easy in corporate America, but benefits have a way of trickling down. Sometimes the most affective way to change the system is from the inside and, regardless of their race or sex, some of those who make it in remember those who don't.

Don't misunderstand. I applaud anyone on this campus who is willing to stand up for something they believe in, or rather, don't believe in, in a fairly respectful manner. With our hideously apathetic and mentally stunted student body, it's truly a rarity. Perhaps next year the College Republicans can do an entirely sex-based affirmative action bake sale where women get charged the same amount but get only half a cookie...