Like those of other American colleges and universities, they grew out of a broad national consensus that such programs are indispensable to achieving equal opportunity in this country. If that consensus changes, so will federal and State policy and law. The University, as it is obligated to do, will respond at the appropriate time. As we prepare our report on the University's programs, however, we need to be clear that its purpose is simply to answer questions that have been raised as a result of the legislative and initiative proposals I mentioned a moment ago. And I believe that in our discussions of the University's programs and policies we need to be careful not to embroil The Regents, and therefore the University, in a debate that is and should be taking place in the state and national arenas.
Affirmative action is a volatile issue that generates strong feelings on every side.
The term itself has become burdened with different and sometimes conflicting meanings. When we use it in the context of the University, therefore, we need to be as specific as possible about what our affirmative action policies are, what social and educational purposes they serve, and how our programs are intended to reflect them. I hope we can conduct our dialogue on this subject with the clarity, thoughtfulness, and precision it deserves.