R88 - Why Affirmative Action is Necessary for Diversity

I feel compelled to post this message.  PLEASE VOTE YES in favor of R-88.  Initiative 1000 (now R-88) was designed specifically to allow affirmative action without the use of quotas by the State of Washington.  This means that characteristics such as race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, and veteran status can be used as factors when considering a person for public education or public employment opportunities. Note, it doesn’t say “shall.”   

 This feels like a personal subject matter.  I was a single mother with a 3-year old son when I was admitted into Seattle University School of Law. My parents didn’t have money.  I paid for my education working and taking out student loans. My ex-husband never paid child-support.   I grew up in Calexico, California, a very small border town that neighbors Mexicali, Mexico.  Almost 97% of the community is Mexican.  The other 3% is White or Chinese.  Sitting so close to the border at least 50% of the entering kindergarten class in Calexico (yes, it’s the U.S.) doesn’t speak English.  I often questioned the quality of my education.  We were not rich, and a private school was never an option. The teachers taught to the-average-mean of the classroom.  Both my parents have passed away, my dad was White and my mother was Mexican.  Being half-white, growing up in Calexico, I WAS the minority.  I wasn’t Mexican enough because my dad white. When I moved to Washington, I was different because I wasn’t White enough.  I learned a long time ago “to beat to my own drum” because I didn’t know many people like me growing up.  The reality is, WE are ALL unique.

 Diversity is important.  Having a law that allows our public universities to take into account adversity (another word for diversity) is common sense.  If you grew up with both parents speaking English, attended a private school with the best teachers, whose parents are college educated, who had a parent at home to tutor and help with your homework, life WAS easier.  Your education was better.  If you can see, hear and are fully able to walk without the use of a wheel chair, you are lucky.  Affirmative action doesn’t punish privilege but rather rewards those who have overcome obstacles (adversity) to get where they are. Having diversity benefits us ALL, even the most privileged.  It’s why many people travel to other countries; — to learn from other cultures.  This law allows universities to hear a potential student’s “story” and find out why maybe a particular student’s SAT scores or GPA’ are not the same.  (Maybe …. it’s like running a race being 50 pounds over-weight and winning third place! In my book that’s a bigger accomplishment than the runner who won first place from Kenya!)  Race is just one of many factors that R-88 will allow public universities to consider.

 R-88 ALSO accounts for veteran status.  This initiative would help an older white male who has served our country for 20 years, now retired and wants to go back to school.  Military service is an honor and we should account for veteran diversity.  Many of our veterans are white and have a disability from their service.  This law doesn’t take away from veterans but rather allows universities to account for other types of diversity in addition to their service.  If anything, this law would HELP veterans.

 I have often felt that my biggest strength is my innate curiosity and my ability to learn from others.  Others who are not like me.  You don’t know until you know better.

I want diversity.  Please VOTE YES on R-88.