The YWCA USA supports Affirmative Action as an effective tool in working towards equity for all. We support the University of Michigan in utilizing Affirmative Action as one means to increase enrollment of qualified students of underrepresented groups.

The YWCA has worked towards diversity since its founding, bringing together women of all ages, racial, cultural, economic, educational, social, and religious backgrounds to work towards a common goal of peace, justice, freedom and dignity.

The YWCA has pioneered racial justice work for over 140 years. We convened the first interracial conference ever held in the south. We adopted our interracial charter eight years before the Supreme Court decision on desegregation. Our leaders and members were active in the passage of Civil Rights legislation. We taught YWCA leaders how to use Affirmative Action and practiced the principles it stood for in order to level the playing field.

We believe that

• Diversity and the participation of all people is a cornerstone of our democratic system
• Full participation and equity have not yet been achieved
• Special systems are still needed
• Affirmative Action as a system has proven to be effective.

We applaud the 60 corporations and dozens of universities who have spoken out in favor of the University of Michigan's Affirmative Action policy and in recognition of the value of diversity in the workforce and in the academic halls.

We believe a shift to the system of accepting the top percent of high school graduating classes as a “racially-blind” approach is not warranted based on the just-released research on its use in California, Texas and Florida which proved its ineffectiveness in recruiting people of color.

Targeting people of color to not receive extra points but still allowing points for athletes and children of alumni in the admittance process appears to reflect subtle racism and a double standard.

The YWCA urges support of the continued use of Affirmative Action as we seek to build a society where everyone counts.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

E-mail this letter to the President ( president@whitehouse.gov ) and your representatives. Alert your volunteers, staff, other non-profits, and your newspaper. Send supportive letters to corporations and universities in your area who support the University of Michigan position.

Prepared by the Communications and Advocacy Strategic Committees of the NCB 3/6/03