Faculty Debates Affirmative Action

On Tuesday, voters in Washington State dealt another blow to supporters of affirmative action by choosing to end preferences based on race and gender in state universities government hiring and contracting.

And though some Harvard professors--like Winthrop Professor of History Stephan A. Thernstrom--call affirmative action the "official religion of...college and university presidents," many say it should no longer exist.

The battle lines are drawn on a variety of fronts--from whether affirmative action is ideologically justified, to whether it has practical benefits. Regarding each thorny new complication, Harvard professors have their own opinions.

Diversity or Division?

Professors disagree on the reasons for affirmative action. Some say it is fair to give the disadvantaged an equal chance and that diversity is beneficial--while others argue it is contrary to the ideals of equality and individual merit.

"I think it's unjust to favor certain people because of their race," said Kenan Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield '53.

"It's also an offense to their pride because they know that they wouldn't have got it without the help of the government," he added.

But Thomas M. Scanlon, Alford Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy and Civic Policy, takes just as strong a stance on the opposite side. "I'm a supporter of [affirmative action]," Scanlon said. "I don't think it's unfair."

Scanlon said he justifies affirmative action primarily because it is a powerful tool for breaking down stereotypes and racial divisions.

Using affirmative action to create diversity also helps add to the range of ideas, Scanlon said. Since he first began teaching in the 1960s, Scanlon said added diversity has increased the variety of opinions in his classes.

"The discussion has been better on academic grounds by the participation of a wider range of people," Scanlon said.

But one of Mansfield's chief criticisms of affirmative action is that it has destroyed the climate of America's universities--producing grade inflation and lowering expectations.

"A program of affirmative action says that social justice is more important than academic standards," Mansfield said.

He added that he is not an opponent of diversity--but rather the means by which universities achieve it.

"It would enhance the life of a university if diversity were not achieved by unjust racial preferences," he said.

Does It Work?

Professors are also divided about the degree towhich affirmative action closes gender and racegaps in society.

Former Harvard President Derek Bok recentlyco-authored a book titled The Shape of theRiver: Long-Term Consequences of Considering Racein College and University Admissions.

The book argues that affirmative action hascreated the backbone of the black middle class inAmerica.

"We don't have much doubt in our minds thatthese policies have turned out to be eminentlyworthwhile to universities, for students, and forsociety as a whole," he told an audience at theHasty Pudding Theater in September.

But Thernstrom said Bok neglects to take intoaccount other ways to interpret his data.

The fact that college-educated blacks are moresuccessful after college may be a result of theirbackgrounds, Thernstrom said, noting that mostblack college students have parents who also wentto college.

College-educated blacks may also achievesuccess because they benefit from more affirmativeaction programs after graduation, when they applyto graduate schools or jobs, Thernstrom added.

A Middle Ground

But as much as professors are polarized, manysaid they would be willing to find some middleground.

Mansfield said he would accept making twoconcessions to supporters of affirmativeaction--that it be voluntary and that if itexists, it should be restricted to blacks.

"[Blacks] have a special claim which others donot have," he said.

Likewise, Nathan Glazer, professor emeritus ofeducation and social structure, said he supportsthe use of affirmative action policies inuniversities--but not in the workplace.

"I think affirmative action in colleges anduniversities is the most acceptable," he said,adding that minority-hiring programs can lead toinefficiency in the workplace.

An Ongoing Debate

Professors disagreed not only about the issueitself--but also about whether or not a referendumis the appropriate venue in which to debate it.

Keith J. Bybee, assistant professor ofgovernment, said the discussion about affirmativeaction should be held on the floor ofCongress--not the voting booth.

"Part of the problem is that we haven't reallyseen a national debate in our politicalinstitutions," said Bybee, who is teachingGovernment 90we: "Law and Politics of AffirmativeAction" this semester.

But Mansfield disagreed, saying "it's onlyright that conservatives get to use [referendums]too."

"Finally," he said, the controversial issue is"being taken to the people directly.

Does It Work?

Professors are also divided about the degree towhich affirmative action closes gender and racegaps in society.

Former Harvard President Derek Bok recentlyco-authored a book titled The Shape of theRiver: Long-Term Consequences of Considering Racein College and University Admissions.

The book argues that affirmative action hascreated the backbone of the black middle class inAmerica.

"We don't have much doubt in our minds thatthese policies have turned out to be eminentlyworthwhile to universities, for students, and forsociety as a whole," he told an audience at theHasty Pudding Theater in September.

But Thernstrom said Bok neglects to take intoaccount other ways to interpret his data.

The fact that college-educated blacks are moresuccessful after college may be a result of theirbackgrounds, Thernstrom said, noting that mostblack college students have parents who also wentto college.

College-educated blacks may also achievesuccess because they benefit from more affirmativeaction programs after graduation, when they applyto graduate schools or jobs, Thernstrom added.

A Middle Ground

But as much as professors are polarized, manysaid they would be willing to find some middleground.

Mansfield said he would accept making twoconcessions to supporters of affirmativeaction--that it be voluntary and that if itexists, it should be restricted to blacks.

"[Blacks] have a special claim which others donot have," he said.

Likewise, Nathan Glazer, professor emeritus ofeducation and social structure, said he supportsthe use of affirmative action policies inuniversities--but not in the workplace.

"I think affirmative action in colleges anduniversities is the most acceptable," he said,adding that minority-hiring programs can lead toinefficiency in the workplace.

An Ongoing Debate

Professors disagreed not only about the issueitself--but also about whether or not a referendumis the appropriate venue in which to debate it.

Keith J. Bybee, assistant professor ofgovernment, said the discussion about affirmativeaction should be held on the floor ofCongress--not the voting booth.

"Part of the problem is that we haven't reallyseen a national debate in our politicalinstitutions," said Bybee, who is teachingGovernment 90we: "Law and Politics of AffirmativeAction" this semester.

But Mansfield disagreed, saying "it's onlyright that conservatives get to use [referendums]too."

"Finally," he said, the controversial issue is"being taken to the people directly.