Making the Case - What You Can Do

What You Can Do

University/College Change of Opinion

Who would have thought that the governing board of one of the most multicultural universities in the most multicultural state in the country would have taken a step away from diversity? In July 1995, the University of California Board of Regents decided to end affirmative action in admissions, hiring, and contracting at the state level. While the university remains under federal affirmative action requirements regarding employment, there has been great concern about the decline in minority student enrollment throughout the university since this ban took effect in January 1997.

How can you ensure that the public policy makers at your institution recognize that diversity among students, faculty, and staff is an essential component of a high-quality higher education? The following commentary offers some ideas.

Make an Analysis of the Climate for Affirmative Action on Your Campus
You are a member of a campus community, and as a supporter of cultural diversity, you are in the best position to measure your institution's attitude about affirmative action. Reading the campus newspaper, faculty newsletters, board of trustees minutes, and alumni magazine will give you additional information. Forming coalitions with other people and groups that support affirmative action and actively sharing information about the campus climate also are effective. In essence, you will be conducting your own personal environmental scan in order to gauge the level of support on campus for affirmative action. If possible, see if there are differences of opinion among students, administrators, faculty, and staff. Incorporate this information into your analysis. While it may be more difficult to obtain board and alumni opinions, both are key to your overall assessment of campus attitudes toward affirmative action. Use this information as you decide on next steps, and remember that opinions can change quickly.

Tell the Story
Be prepared to "tell the story" of how affirmative action has helped your campus improve its diversity. This story should include facts, such as the increased number of students, faculty, and staff who are women and/or members of minority groups, and accounts of individuals whose lives have been enhanced by the use of affirmative action. Include information on how diversity in higher education helps prepare your students for the world of work and for participation in a democratic society. It is very important to put this debate about affirmative action into the context of your institution.

Design the Strategy
With a good idea of campus opinion established and the story of affirmative action at your institution prepared, it is now time to design your strategy. If support for affirmative action is strong, then organizing a media effort that celebrates the achievements of affirmative action might be most appropriate. If, on the other hand, you find evidence that key policy makers are wavering in their support, then it is essential that they hear from both the current campus community and the alumni. Individual meetings with these key policy makers can be very effective.

Congressional Action

We urge you to express your strong opposition to any national legislation designed to curtail or eliminate affirmative action. Contact your senators and representatives and encourage them to vote against such measures. While you may not normally write your member of Congress, this time you must. The critics of affirmative action are using your silence as further evidence that the nation no longer needs or wants affirmative action. Your opinion matters and it must be heard.

Support greater opportunity for women and minorities--call or write TODAY.

Visiting Your Representatives
A visit with a member of Congress works both ways. Any time you travel to Washington, DC, be sure to schedule a meeting with your member of Congress or the staff members responsible for higher education issues. Members often have more time for constituents during congressional recesses, when they visit their district office(s). Maintaining a steady dialogue with them---even when there are no pending votes---will benefit your campus in the long run.

Make an Appointment
Call your member's Washington or district office and ask to speak with the scheduler. Explain that you are a concerned citizen and want to meet with your representative to talk about affirmative action. If the representative is not available, make an appointment with the legislative assistant who covers education matters. They understand the issues you are addressing and will make sure your message gets to the member.

Be Prepared
Go into the meeting with specific information and examples of how affirmative action programs affect you and the people of the member's state and/or district. Provide a fact sheet of examples of how affirmative action has enhanced your campus.

Be Brief
Respect the busy schedules of representatives and their staffs. A typical appointment is about 20 minutes; do not overstay your allotted time.

Follow Up
After your meeting, write a note to the representative and the aides with whom you met. Thank them for their time and reiterate why affirmative action is so important to you and your campus.

Letter-Writing Campaigns
The most effective way to contact your member of Congress is to write a letter. Along with phone calls, personal letters command the greatest amount of attention in congressional offices. Letters should be brief, concise, and neat. State your message clearly at the start of your letter ("I'm contacting you because I want you to vote for the continued use of affirmative action.") Then give the details of your personal story. Keep it short and don't forget to provide your return address.

How to Address Members of Congress

The Honorable (name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative (last name):

The Honorable (name)
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator (last name):

Phone Calls to Congress
Phone calls may be the easiest way to get your point across to members of Congress. When you call a congressional office, you seldom will speak directly with your member. Instead, you will be leaving a message with a staff member--usually the legislative assistant responsible for briefing your representative on education issues. Keep your message brief and to the point, and don't forget to personalize the story.

Any member of Congress can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard (below) by asking for your representative's office.

U.S. Senate Switchboard (202) 224-3121

U.S. House of Representatives Switchboard (202) 225-3121

White House Comment Line (202) 456-1111

For the local numbers of district offices, check your local phone directory.

State Legislation
In dealing with state legislators, follow an approach similar to your interactions with your congressional representatives. An effective strategy is to be proactive.

Tips for Effective Advocacy

Communicate with your legislators and express your support for affirmative action.
Be prepared to provide personal stories of how affirmative action has enhanced your academic career and/or data that illustrate how affirmative action has improved the diversity of your campus.
Discuss the educational value of diversity and the benefits of a campus that mirrors the community. Read the 1995 and 1997 ACE Board of Directors statements on affirmative action, and use this information in making your arguments. (See 1995 ACE Board Statement on Affirmative Action and 1997 ACE Board Statement on Affirmative Action.)
Make clear your belief that affirmative action has provided the means to achieve diversity.
Form a network with other campus-based professionals in your state who support affirmative action. Share information and consider calling on legislators together.
Seek out organizations in your state that support affirmative action. Form alliances with grassroots groups and affiliates of national organizations, many of which already have efforts under way.

On a more positive note, proposals have been introduced in several states that would strengthen or expand affirmative action programs. Some examples are Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, New York, and Oregon. If you are in one of these states, be sure to thank your legislators for their continued support of affirmative action.