Bok Discusses Benefits Of Affirmative Action

Extolling the empirical benefits of race-conscious admissions policies employed by selective universities, President Emeritus Derek C. Bok gave a brief presentation on the findings of his new book, The Shape of the River, last night at the Hasty Pudding Theater.

The book, which was published earlier this month, is widely regarded as the first comprehensive statistical analysis of the effects of the college affirmative action policies. It analyzes the responses of 45,000 students who attended one of 28 selective universities between the 1970s and the early 1990s.

"The remarkable thing [about the debate] is that there have been very few facts. It was largely based on anecdotes and impassioned rhetoric," said Bok, who co-authored the book with former Princeton University President William G. Bowen. "Our hope was to move the debate to a higher level."

According to Bok, the study offers two conclusions that lend support to race-conscious policies: First, minority students who are accepted to competitive schools find higher success in their academics, careers and community; and second, all students benefit from a racially-diverse student body.

Among the study's findings:

*Black students who attended selective schools were five times as likely to earn advanced degrees in business, law or medicine.

*Blacks graduating from elite colleges earned 70 percent to 85 percent more, and were more likely to take on civic and community leadership roles.

*A large majority of students reported affirmative action policies helped them value working with students of different races; for this reason, 80 percent of white students felt the policy should retained or strengthened.

"We don't have much doubt in our minds that these policies have turned out to be eminently worthwhile for universities, for students and for society as a whole," Bok said.

Ironically, Harvard was not among the 28 academic institutions that participated in the study.

The Shape of the River also attempts to debunk a number of the arguments made by those who oppose race-conscious policies, such as the theory that competitive environments will "overwhelm" under-qualified minorities.

However, Bok said the study found that more challenging the academic environments resulted in higher academic

success among minority students.

"They are far from being victimized," he said.

The study seems to be part of a growing counter-attack to anti-affirmative action measures like California's Proposition 209 and the Supreme Court's Hopwood decision.

Harvard has been a major part of this counter-attack. Last year, President Neil L. Rudenstine played a critical role in defeating the anti-affirmative action Riggs Amendment on Capitol Hill.

Bok denied that the study was made with any pre-conceived notions of affirmative action's efficacy.

"We didn't know what the outcome would be," he said. "Almost everything was a surprise."

"It's a piece of scholarly research, as opposed to a debate of one side over the other," said Glenda K. Burkhart of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The Foundation, of which Bowen is president, was responsible for building the study's database.

Bok and Bowen spent the past few weeks discussing their book in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Last Wednesday they spoke to various members of the Massachusetts' academic and political communities about their findings, Burkhart said.

Yesterday evening's event was sponsored by the Harvard Book Store and the Hasty Pudding Institute

success among minority students.

"They are far from being victimized," he said.

The study seems to be part of a growing counter-attack to anti-affirmative action measures like California's Proposition 209 and the Supreme Court's Hopwood decision.

Harvard has been a major part of this counter-attack. Last year, President Neil L. Rudenstine played a critical role in defeating the anti-affirmative action Riggs Amendment on Capitol Hill.

Bok denied that the study was made with any pre-conceived notions of affirmative action's efficacy.

"We didn't know what the outcome would be," he said. "Almost everything was a surprise."

"It's a piece of scholarly research, as opposed to a debate of one side over the other," said Glenda K. Burkhart of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The Foundation, of which Bowen is president, was responsible for building the study's database.

Bok and Bowen spent the past few weeks discussing their book in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Last Wednesday they spoke to various members of the Massachusetts' academic and political communities about their findings, Burkhart said.

Yesterday evening's event was sponsored by the Harvard Book Store and the Hasty Pudding Institute