JC

Wow. Apparently, we have been watching too much of Hines Ward instead of the other Ward…Ward Connerly. He’s at it again. This time, he has worked through his org (American Civil Rights Institute — quite a misleading name) and along with his conservative friends (Linda Chavez at the Center for Equal Opportunity) to cut scholarships that specifically grant awards to students of color.  He is the infamous proponent of doing away with affirmative action, for those who don’t know him. If you want to see some of his past trouble-making, we have a whole category devoted to him entitled “Ward Watch.” Basically, he constantly attempts to do away with racial classification (which we all agree we have to get rid of at some point — but it’s a necessary evil for now). He wanted a “multiracial” category on Census 2000 instead of allowing people to check more than one box. He continues to battle against affirmative action…now “minority”-based scholarships.

A conservative revolution has quietly been taking place on college campuses across the country. Scholarships, fellowships and other funding programs previously earmarked for women and minorities are now being made available to white and non-minority students. In 2002, many institutions of higher learning began to take a hard look at the potential legal liability of their race-specific programs. That was also just about the same time that conservative groups began to mobilize around the issue.

The following year, the Supreme Court handed down two decisions that defined the limits of affirmative action as it relates to college admissions. Conservative activists, led by Linda Chavez’s Center for Equal Opportunity and Ward Connerly’s American Civil Rights Institute, then began to systematically examine the funding programs of colleges and universities.

The Center for Equal Opportunity challenged programs at more than 200 institutions of higher learning, and threatened legal action for any who didn’t agree to end limitations on race-exclusive scholarship programs.

The center also filed letters of complaint about schools that don’t fall into line with the U.S. Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights. That has led to Education Department investigations and Justice Department threats of legal action aimed at schools that resisted the changes.

Yes, this has been pretty quiet — I mean, I haven’t heard much about it, which is a bad thing. We need to get our Ward Watch on again!!! He sneaks these things under the radar whenever he can. Obviously, this is not a good direction for our country to be headed in. Why are some convinced that the playing field is level? It is far from that…

Many students of color in urban public schools are languishing in separate and unequal facilities. They face dwindling funding resources at the federal, state and local levels. They lack basic supplies, endure overcrowded classrooms and crumbling infrastructures. Those limitations mean that many students of color are already having to work harder to access higher education.

If scholarship programs designated for minorities are eliminated, our education system will continue to leave many well-qualified and deserving students behind.

Keep an eye on Ward! I am curious to hear about any backlash against these conservative efforts…aside from the few schools that are either playing dumb and continuing their race-based scholarships or the ones that are trying to negotiate.