This amendment is modeled on California's Proposition 209 in that it would prohibit universities and colleges from using affirmative action as a legal remedy in cases of documented discrimination and prevent the use of affirmative action to increase campus diversity. In essence, the Riggs amendment would end affirmative action in admissions at any school that receives funding under the Act. I oppose this amendment on the grounds that it would move our country backward and would Affirmative action is not quotas. Affirmative action is not set aside programs. Affirmative action means equal opportunity to compete.
Affirmative action means having the chance to participate in the American dream.
Unfortunately, the politics of race and getting re-elected has clouded the memory of too many of my colleagues. The elimination of affirmative action programs makes the wildly implausible assumption that there is no racism or sexism present in our nation. The Supreme Court has stated that affirmative action programs are Constitutional. Among many other factors where a student lives, their relationship to the alumni, a particular artistic, musical, or athletic talent race may be used as a criteria, in addition to grades and test scores, to admit a person to an institution of higher learning. We cannot allow this disheartening trend to continue.