Sunday, March 9, 2008

Anti-affirmative-action leader speaks on U of Michigan campus

March 9, 2008
The Associated Press

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The leader of a successful effort to pass an anti-affirmative-action ballot proposal in Michigan returned to the state to discuss his views.

The Ann Arbor News reports Ward Connerly's remarks Saturday at the University of Michigan Law School were interrupted by protesters, but also received cheers.

Connerly says during a panel discussion that: "Colorblindness ... is part of the DNA of American government."

The effort to amend to Michigan's constitution passed in November 2006 with 58 percent of the vote. The amendment bans the use of race and gender preferences in university admissions and government hiring.

The measure was prompted by a 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision on affirmative action at the University of Michigan.
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Information from: The Ann Arbor News, http://www.mlive.com/aanews

Connerly calls for 'colorblindness'

Boos, cheers greet views on referendums
March 09, 2008
Ann Arbor News

BY AMANDA HAMON The Ann Arbor News
Ward Connerly, who launched the ballot initiative that ended race and gender preferences in public education, hiring and contracting in Michigan, defended his views Saturday in Ann Arbor.
Connerly, interrupted several times by protesters, made his remarks amid boos and cheers near the end of a panel discussion about public reaction to referendums.

Connerly, a California businessman and former University of California regent, said the goal of Proposal 2, passed by Michigan voters in November 2006, is to have all citizens treated as equals without regard to race, religion or nationality.

"Colorblindness, I think, is part of the DNA of American government,'' Connerly, who is black, told the full room at Hutchins Hall on the University of Michigan Law School campus. "... To me, it's unmistakable that the majority of the American people embrace that.''

The panel included U-M law professor Sherman Clark and Marci Hamilton, a law professor from Yeshiva University in New York City. The discussion was part of the national Federalist Society's annual symposium.

The panelists discussed the use of direct democracy and ballot initiatives and raised questions as to the most appropriate times to use them. Connerly's remarks came last in the discussion.
He said Michigan citizens have spoken on the use of race in public education, public hiring and public contracting because it's a complicated issue that many lawmakers avoid.

"Name one legislative body in America that's willing to tackle the issue of race,'' he challenged the audience.

Connerly was interrupted several times by shouts, boos and retorts from some members of the crowd.

After the panel discussion, the floor was opened for audience questions.

Although some questions were law-related, many came from protesters who accused Connerly of supporting segregation and defrauding voters. Moderators often fought for control and encouraged audience members to keep their questions and comments concise.
Connerly often responded by saying that he supported socioeconomic affirmative action and that states should take measures to ensure all students have a quality education before college.
Before the panel discussion, a mixed-race group of about 16 students and activists protested Connerly's appearance outside Hutchins Hall.

"We are saying forcefully that he's not welcome in Michigan. We're asserting that every minority and woman student on campus deserves to be here and is equal to any white or male student,'' said U-M graduate student Kate Stenvig, a member of the U-M chapter of the pro-affirmative action group BAMN and the campus' Defend Affirmative Action Party.
Monica Smith, a U-M graduate and law student at Wayne State University, said BAMN has fought Connerly in his work and will continue to do so.

"There's a real war going on,'' she said.

Audience reaction to the panel discussion was generally positive.

St. Louis University students Chris Wintrode and Brad Williams said the panel responded well to the questions presented.

"I thought it was good that we had a debate, and (it was) a very lively debate,'' Wintrode said. "But it was pretty unfortunate that we couldn't rise to an academic debate.''

Reporter Amanda Hamon can be reached at 734-994-6852 or ahamon@annarbornews.com.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Connerly: Colorblindness is the goal of Proposal 2

March 8, 2008
By AMANDA HAMON
The Ann Arbor News
















Ward Connerly, who launched the ballot initiative that ended race and gender preferences in public education, hiring and contracting in Michigan, defended his views Saturday in Ann Arbor.
Connerly, interrupted several times by protesters, made his remarks amid boos and cheers near the end of a panel discussion about public reaction to referendums.

Connerly, a California businessman and former University of California regent, said the goal of Proposal 2, passed by Michigan voters in November 2006, is to have all citizens treated as equals without regard to race, religion or nationality.

"Colorblindness, I think, is part of the DNA of American government," Connerly, who is black, told the full room at Hutchins Hall on the University of Michigan Law School campus. "... To me, it's unmistakable that the majority of the American people embrace that."

The panel included U-M law professor Sherman Clark and Marci Hamilton, a law professor from Yeshiva University in New York City. The discussion was part of the national Federalist Society's annual symposium.

The panelists discussed the use of direct democracy and ballot initiatives and raised questions as to the most appropriate times to use them. Connerly's remarks came last in the discussion.He said Michigan citizens have spoken on the use of race in public education, public hiring and public contracting because it's a complicated issue that many lawmakers avoid.

"Name one legislative body in America that's willing to tackle the issue of race," he challenged the audience.

Connerly was interrupted several times by shouts, boos and retorts from some members of the crowd.

After the panel discussion, the floor was opened for audience questions.

Although some questions were law-related, many came from protesters who accused Connerly of supporting segregation and defrauding voters. Moderators often fought for control and encouraged audience members to keep their questions and comments concise.

Connerly often responded by saying that he supported socioeconomic affirmative action and that states should take measures to ensure all students have a quality education before college.
Before the panel discussion, a mixed-race group of about 16 students and activists protested Connerly's appearance outside Hutchins Hall.

"We are saying forcefully that he's not welcome in Michigan. We're asserting that every minority and woman student on campus deserves to be here and is equal to any white or male student," said U-M graduate student Kate Stenvig, a member of the U-M chapter of the pro-affirmative action group BAMN and the campus' Defend Affirmative Action Party.

Monica Smith, a U-M graduate and law student at Wayne State University, said BAMN has fought Connerly in his work and will continue to do so.

"There's a real war going on," she said.

Audience reaction to the panel discussion was generally positive.St. Louis University students Chris Wintrode and Brad Williams said the panel responded well to the questions presented.
"I thought it was good that we had a debate, and (it was) a very lively debate," Wintrode said. "But it was pretty unfortunate that we couldn't rise to an academic debate."

Amanda Hamon can be reached at 734-994-6852 or ahamon@annarbornews.com.