Affirmative Action Links
An Affirmative Action Manual: Understanding What It Is, Analyzing the Attacks Against It, Articulating the Arguments in Support of It: Gerald P. Lopez, Enid Colson, and Courtney Schaberg wrote this Manual in 1996 as part of the campaign against California's Proposition 209 which bans affirmative action in public education, public employment, and public contracting. It is available in the pdf format from this link.
The Diversity Imperative: David Hall, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs of Northeastern University, delivered these inspirational remarks at the National Conference on Diversity in Legal Education held in Denver, Colorado, October 5-7, 2000. Provost Hall addresses the concern that such conferences constitute "preaching to the choir" and discusses the appropriate way to measure success in the divesity struggle. The speech is available in the pdf format from this link.
Ten Myths About Affirmative Action: This excellent essay in support of affirmative action is an updated version of one which appeared in the Winter 1996 issue of the Journal of Social Issues (vol. 52, pages 25-31).
Preserve Affirmative Action.org: This website, sponsored by the Equal Justice Society, provides information, tools, and resources to help faculty, students, and alumni of institutions of higher education preserve and promote affirmative action. It includes a downloadable compliance manual prepared by several of the nation's leading law firms providing advice on how to design affirmative action programs which comply with the 2003 United States Supreme Court decisions in the University of Michigan cases, copies of the decisions themselves in pdf format, talking points on the decisions, suggestions on what to do to support affirmative action, and a links page.
Information on Admissions Lawsuits against the University of Michigan: The University of Michigan defended two lawsuits challenging its admissions affirmative action programs, one attacking its law school admissions process and the other its undergraduate admissions policies. In 2003 the United States Supreme Court upheld the law school's affirmative action program, but concluded that the undergraduate program which it reviewed was unconstitutional. This site is a wonderful resource for scholars, researchers, journalists, and others who want background information on these important cases. It includes litigation documents, including expert reports on the need for diversity in higher education, newspaper articles, statements by university officials, and both summaries and analyses of the Supreme Court decisions.
Beyond Self-Interest: Asian Pacific Americans Towards a Community of Justice: In this policy analysis four Asian Pacific American law professors make the case for affirmative action, with a special focus on Asian Pacific Americans. It is available in pdf format here.
Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action: This organization was founded in July 1995 in Berkeley, California, in response to the attack on affirmative action in the University of California system. The site includes a News section which has information on recent court decisions, a Literature section which has copies of litigation documents, a Resources section with a number of relevant articles, and a links page which features sites from other college campuses.
The Affirmative Action and Diversity Project: This site presents diverse opinions regarding affirmative action topics. It is designed to be an academic resource and provide on-site articles, policy documents, current legislative updates, and an annotated bibliography of research and teaching materials.
The Civil Rights Project at Harvard University: This link is to the Resources page which lists several good web sources for affirmative action information. The Publications section also contains some important reports including Diversity and Legal Education: Student Experiences in Leading Law Schools (June 1999).
Affirmative Action in Focus: This February 1999 report attempts to summarize the affirmative action debate, present relevant data, discuss federal affirmative action law and enforcement, and the legal challenges to affirmative action. The Resources page contains a comprehensive list of relevant links.
Affirmative Action Review: Report to the President (July 1995): In 1995 President Clinton asked for a Review of Federal Affirmative Action Programs to determine their benefits, costs, and fairness. This Report was prepared in response to that request. It includes a history of affirmative action, a review of the empirical research on it, and a discussion of the justification for it.