Ed Board approves diversity resolution
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By KEVIN ABOUREZK / Lincoln Journal Star
The Nebraska Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution Thursday supporting racial, ethnic and gender diversity within state public educational institutions.
The resolution, which also supports programs that improve educational access for all qualified students, is a reaction to an effort under way to end affirmative action in Nebraska.
The board voted 7-0 with one member, Joe Higgins, absent.
Board member Carole Woods Harris, who introduced the resolution, said she was pleased the board chose to support diversity within public education ranks.
She called it a good time to send a message to the rest of the state about the board’s stance on the proposed ban.
The ban effort is being led by Ward Connerly, who heads the California-based Super Tuesday for Equal Rights. The group has been successful in California, Michigan and Washington and is targeting five states, Nebraska included, this year.
The group’s allies need to gather 115,000 signatures by July 4 to place the proposed ban before Nebraska voters in November.
NU regents already have voted to oppose the ban.
Doug Tietz, executive director of the Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative, an ally of Super Tuesday for Equal Rights, said concerns voiced Wednesday at the Board of Education meeting by state education and university staff about the initiative raised false alarms.
He said programs mentioned by the staff members as programs that might be vulnerable should the ban be passed would not, for the most part, be affected.
Student ethnic clubs, as long as they don’t prohibit students of certain ethnic groups from joining, likely would be allowed to continue to operate, Tietz said.
And outreach programs, like an annual Hispanic summit sponsored by the state Department of Education, would be encouraged.
He said he was frustrated to not have been given the chance to speak before the board about his group’s efforts.
“It’s unfortunate they weren’t concerned about hearing the other side of the argument,” he said. “Race preferences are on the way out.”
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Diversity Jokes wrote on April 3, 2008 1:49 pm:
qualified person with any diversity-related issues would possibly want to willingly subject themselves
to the condescending scrutiny and out-and-out discrimination they are likely to receive at NE schools
either as a teacher or student. Hitch your Uhaul to a star and move to a more progressive before these insensitive people hurt you any worse. "
Diversity Jokes/typo fixed wrote on April 3, 2008 1:51 pm:
qualified person with any diversity-related issues would possibly want to willingly subject themselves
to the condescending scrutiny and out-and-out discrimination they are likely to receive at NE schools
either as a teacher or student. Hitch your Uhaul to a star and move to a more progressive place before these insensitive people hurt you any worse. "
What wrote on April 3, 2008 1:51 pm:
Brian wrote on April 3, 2008 1:58 pm:
The funny thing is they do discriminate. The ACT admissions score for 'students of color' is lower than other students. If a white student gets a 26 on their ACT they can't get into some programs while a 'student of color' can get a 26 and still get in just fine. Then they turn around and give illegal aliens in-state tuition. That's discriminating against all students not from Nebraska.
Equality shouldn't be some subjective term. Equal is equal, not preference for some over others. Saying that UNL doesn't discriminate is just feel good propaganda. In my opinion, UNL implements institutionalized discrimination that is turned around and called equality. "
Ej wrote on April 3, 2008 2:27 pm:
Brainiac wrote on April 3, 2008 2:34 pm:
of college graduates, and test scores hardly scratch the surface of my professional and pre-professional accomplishments--nonetheless, UNL has subjected
me to breathtakingly inhumane and punitive discriminatory
treatment. Their cops and dishonest upper administration
even plotted to get my job slashed at an unrelated institution. Most UNL rhetoric consists of Orwellian doublespeak--especially unfortunately their non-discrimination statement.Where bad judgment so abounds democracy barely has a chance. "
foxspit wrote on April 3, 2008 2:43 pm:
ABR wrote on April 3, 2008 4:54 pm:
AWP wrote on April 3, 2008 5:47 pm:
Equality wrote on April 4, 2008 12:05 am:
Laughable wrote on April 4, 2008 6:01 am:
UNL Student and Emlpoyee wrote on April 4, 2008 10:07 am:
1. Brian your statement "The ACT admissions score for 'students of color' is lower than other students. If a white student gets a 26 on their ACT they can't get into some programs while a 'student of color' can get a 26 and still get in just fine." Its totally false the University recruits specific groups whether they may be by race, ethnic group, or gender. They do not admit by any other category except merit.
2. To Equality. I was there when Mr. Connerly spoke at UNL and I even got a exchange some words with him privately. He is indeed against the Government encouraging Diversity because he believed that people from different backgrounds interacted so much already that the government need not to play a role.
I would like to point everyone who agrees with Ward, too seek out the differences in between California, where Mr. Connerly is from and Nebraska where this ballot initiative would take place. "