If they agree with the intent and the prescription, then they must take a stand and help implement equal opportunity with the help of affirmative action, and lastly, diversity. Equal opportunity is the easiest to understand. The federal government has, in recent years, developed a very rational, eight- factor analysis of what should be taken into account regarding whether a minority group is being accorded equal opportunity by an employer. Qualification is given the predominant weight. For example, if 0.5 percent of the new Ph.D.'s in political science nationwide in recent years are Asian-Americans, then our political science department cannot be blamed for not having an Asian on its faculty.
Affirmative action is more controversial.
For example, given the paucity of Asians in politics, our political science department could be asked to actively recruit Asian students. In addition, race-specific scholarships for Asians who major in political science could be established. This is the area where we as individuals and as a nation might not have done as well. My thoughts are still in a formative stage, but I shall utter them so as to stir the pot a little. Our establishments are opening their doors to protected classes-females, blacks, Hispanics, Asians and others.