Ward Connerly, a California businessman, has proposed an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that would ban affirmative action programs across the state.
The amendment would affect state departments and other public institutions such as public education, political subdivisions and public corporations.
This ballot initiative, the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative, is sponsored by the American Civil Rights Coalition and is just one of five state initiatives across the country including Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona and Oklahoma.
Currently, there is controversy in the state courts over the language of the proposed amendment. MoCRI filed a lawsuit against Robin Carnahan, Missouri secretary of state, for changing the language of the proposal.
The original ballot title read, "Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: ban affirmative action programs designed to eliminate discrimination against, and improve opportunities for, women and minorities in public contracting, employment and education; and allow preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin to meet federal program funds eligibility standards as well as preferential treatment for bona fide qualifications based on sex?"
MoCRI claimed that Carnahan rewrote the title to read "ban affirmative action programs designed to eliminate discrimination against, and improve opportunities for women and minorities." The ballot title has since been modified.
There are many groups around the state that are against MoCRI and the banning of affirmative action, including the WE CAN coalition.
On Wednesday, WE CAN held a public hearing to save affirmative action at Harris Stowe State College.
During the hearing, local advocates spoke about what affirmative action is, why St. Louis needs affirmative action and the projected local impact that the Civil Rights Initiative would have on higher education and local jobs.
Terry Jones, Ph.D., UM-St. Louis political science professor, spoke about why St. Louis needs affirmative action.
Jones said he feels that supporting affirmative action is "the right thing to do, the smart thing to do." Affirmative action creates "a more equal, more level playing field" he said.
Deborah Burris, director of the Office of Equal Opportunity at UM-St. Louis, also spoke during the hearing about the possible effects of MoCRI on local higher education institutions.
Burris explained that without affirmative action, scholarships and financial aid would be eliminated leaving many minority students unable to afford college. If minorities could not afford to attend college, it could lead to a decrease in a diverse workforce.
Burris was not only concerned about student enrollment, but faculty recruitment as well. She said she feels it is "important to have diverse faculty and the students can relate better when they have "teachers that look like them."
Dick Fleming, CEO of the Regional Chamber and Growth Association, talked about the effects the proposed initiative would have on local businesses and corporations.
"The most important factor in keeping businesses in the area is the ability to attract and keep a workforce," Fleming said.
He explained one of the key attributes that attracts people to St. Louis is its diverse community. Fleming said businesses feel this amendment would send "the opposite view of a diverse community."
Also at the hearing to speak about the impact the initiative would have on local jobs was Gerry Feldhaus, executive secretary-treasurer of the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council.
Feldhaus said he believes affirmative action is "simply an issue of fairness and equality," that men and women, no matter what race, should be offered decent paying jobs and that everyone should have an opportunity to earn a living.
Affirmative action has already been banned in California, Washington and Michigan because of the work of the American Civil Rights Coalition.
During the hearing, Penny Pennington, a former Michigan resident, spoke about the impact of the ban. When the proposal made it onto the ballot in Michigan, Pennington said, "the language was convoluted."
The proposal ended up passing 58 percent to 42 percent. She noted one of the effects of this ban was a drop in minority enrollment at the University of Michigan.
According to the WE CAN Coalition's website, http://www.wecanmo.org, the proposal can bypass the legislative process by getting registered voters to sign a petition to place it on the Nov. 4 ballot. MoCRI would need an estimated 150,000 to 180,000 signatures to accomplish this. WE CAN is urging voters not to sign these petitions.
Burris was not only concerned about student enrollment, but faculty recruitment as well. She said it is "important to have diverse faculty and the students can relate better when they have teachers that look like them."
Dick Fleming, Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Chamber and Growth Association, talked about the effects the proposed initiative would have on local businesses and corporations.
"The most important factor in keeping businesses in the area is the ability to attract and keep a workforce," Fleming said.
He explained one of the key attributes that attracts people to St. Louis is its diverse community. Fleming said businesses feel this amendment would send "the opposite view of a diverse community."
Also at the hearing to speak about the impact the initiative would have on local jobs was Gerry Feldhaus, executive secretary-treasurer of the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council.
Feldhaus said he believes affirmative action is "simply an issue of fairness and equality," that men and women, no matter what race, should be offered decent paying jobs and that everyone should have an opportunity to make a living.
Affirmative action has already been banned in California, Washington and Michigan because of the work of the American Civil Rights Coalition.
During the hearing, Penny Pennington, a former Michigan resident, spoke about the impact of the ban. When the proposal made it onto the ballot in Michigan, Pennington said, "the language was convoluted."
The proposal ended up passing 58 percent to 42 percent. She noted one of the effects of this ban was a drop in minority enrollment at the University of Michigan.
According to the WE CAN Coalition's website, the proposal can bypass the legislative process by getting registered voters to sign a petition to place it on the Nov. 4 ballot. MoCRI would need an estimated 150,000 signatures to accomplish this. WE CAN is urging voters not to sign these petitions.
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