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California businessman Ward Connerly addresses more than 150 UNO students in March at a forum sponsored by College Republicans. (Bill Wendl/The Gateway)

Antonio Guardio, left, a former Goodrich student protests during a discussion about affirmative action in March. To his right is Andrew Northwall, then chairman of College Republicans. (Bill Wendl/The Gateway)

University prepares for affirmative action ban

By: Mark Reagan

Posted: 11/21/08

Universities and work places have used affirmative action as a tool to protect and promote diversity. It's been a hotly debated policy that has traditionally helped minorities get into college and promoted diversity in workplaces.

Last Election Day, Nov. 4, Nebraskans voted to pass Initiative 424. The passage of Initiative 424 amends Nebraska's constitution to ban gender or race preferences in public education, contracting or employment.

Gender- and race-based scholarships may no longer be an option for minorities in the University of Nebraska system because affirmative action has been banned. UNO will have to do an overhaul of programs based on race and gender.

"We will undertake a review of our programs and initiatives and make changes we believe are required," NU President James B. Milliken said in a statement.

UNO Chancellor John Christensen agrees with Milliken's statement, said Wendy Townley, assistant director of University Relations.

The passage of Initiative 424 will impact any race, gender or sexually oriented programs, said Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado, assistant director for research and outreach in the Office of Latino and Latin American Studies. He said any multicultural programs or women's programs would be discontinued if they operated off of state money.

"Sadly, this will undermine all the efforts that the university and the state have been promoting to make Latinos more a part of the mainstream of Nebraska society," Benjamin-Alvarado said. "Hispanic/Latino students face a lot of obstacles that make it difficult for them to get here."

Financing, access to federal loans for non-citizens and the challenge of being the first in the family to attend college are tough situations often faced by Hispanics, Benjamin-Alvarado said.

He said he thinks Hispanic enrollment will decrease as it has in other states where similar laws have passed for a number of reasons.

"First and obviously, the university will no longer be able to target and recruit Latinos in the way they have in the past," Benjamin-Alvarado said. "Second, students in the community will be getting the message that they are not welcome."

What is sure about the passing of Initiative 424, Benjamin-Alvarado said, is it's not good for Hispanics, UNO or efforts to promote diversity.

So far, the passing of Initiative 424 is leaving people feeling unsure what will happen. Cathi Warren, community outreach coordinator with Multicultural Affairs, said she didn't know how the affirmative action ban is going to affect American Indian students.

"We're in a special category because, technically, legally, we're not a minority," Warren said, explaining that people enrolled in tribes are federally recognized groups.

Warren said Native American Recruitment Day in April may be in jeopardy. The event works with Omaha Public Schools' Native Indian Centered Education program. Many American Indian students enter UNO through that program.

Warren also wasn't sure about the status of her own position.

"Pretty much everything that I do is funded by the state," Warren said.

Warren said she is concerned about what effect the initiative will have. Overall, however, Warren said she thinks the passing of Initiative 424 is bad for UNO.

Not every facet of UNO's minority community is worried, though.

Lori Young, director of the Women's Resource Center, said her student agency should not be impacted, but that women in Nebraska will feel the repercussions of the initiative. The Women's Resource Center, along with UNO's other student agencies, are funded by student fees, not tax dollars.

Jerry Cedarblom, director of the Goodrich Scholarship Program said she doesn't believe it will significantly alter the program.

She said just because affirmative action has been banned, we shouldn't think UNO and the rest of the NU system won't work to promote diversity.

Milliken agrees.

"We will continue to do all we can, consistent with federal and state law, to extend access to the university as broadly as possible, to encourage under-represented populations to participate in higher education and to continue to provide educational and economic opportunity to Nebraskans," Milliken said.

Just how diverse is UNO?

According to a student profile for 2008-09 produced by the Office of Institutional Research, UNO's undergraduate population is composed of:

- 81.5 percent Caucasian;

- 5.7 percent African American;

- 3.8 percent Hispanic;

- 2.7 percent Asian American;

- 0.5 percent American Indian;

- 2.4 percent International Students;

- 3.3 percent No Response.