Bush Opposes "Legacy" College Admissions

photo credit: Kimberly Whitfield President Bush makes a point at Unity as panelists Ray Suarez, center, and Roland S. Martin look on.

While protesters picketed outside the Washington Convention Center, President Bush told journalists at Unity 2004 that he opposes “legacy” college admissions, those based on family members having attended the school. And he said that $3 billion of help to states and local governments was designed to make sure "the voting process is fair" this year.

Bush, who was admitted to Yale University in part because his father and grandfather attended the school, said in response to a question that institutions should prohibit admissions based on legacy.

“I think it ought to be based upon merit,” Bush said in his Aug. 6 appearance.

Colleges and universities that have been forced to re-evaluate admissions policies based on race and ethnicity are also reconsidering legacy admissions, in which children of alumni are given preferences.

Bush’s comments on the legacy issue as well as on voting came in two exchanges with Roland S. Martin, who represented the National Association of Black Journalists on a four-person panel that questioned the president. Martin is a syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate and also editorial consultant for the Chicago Defender.

Martin asked Bush whether he planned to order safeguards this year so that voters’ rights will be protected.

“First of all, look, I can understand why African Americans, in particular, are worried about being able to vote, since the vote had been denied for so long in the South, in particular,” Bush said. “And, obviously, everybody ought to have a vote.”

“Should we guarantee it in the Constitution?” Martin then asked.

“I'll consider it. I'll consider it,” Bush said.

The president said the right to vote is not as much of a problem as is getting citizens to register and vote. He urged journalists to fulfill their "duty" to urge people to register and vote.

In his speech, Bush opened by noting that the Unity organization paralleled his own philosophy of diversity in the workplace.

“You believe there ought to be diversity in the newsrooms. I understand that,” he said, and later made reference to his Cabinet. "My Cabinet is diverse. The people who walk into the Oval Office and say, 'Mr. President, you're not looking so good today,' they're diverse," he said.

Answering a question later about affirmative action, Bush emphasized that he agrees with the Supreme Court's rejection of "quotas," but said, "I support colleges affirmatively taking action to get more minorities in their school."

Arriving one day after Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry’s visit, which became more of a campaign rally, Bush did not manage to incite the audience. The crowd was more reserved.

About six faint bursts of applause peppered the speech. From the spurts of scattered laughter and momentary murmuring, it was apparent that the journalists had a difficult time digesting Bush’s recitation of his accomplishments.

Bush said funding for kindergarten-through- 12 programs had increased by 49 percent since 2001. He said, "We spent $1.1 billion for Indian school construction repair since 2001, more than double spending in the previous four years." He pointed to "1.6 million new minority home owners in the last two years," and mentioned plans for Medicare modifications such as prescription drug coverage for low-income seniors.

Although he said he wished he did not have to be a "war president,” Bush said U.S. troops would remain in Iraq indefinitely until the shift toward a democratic society was complete.

The president's most passionate moment came 20 minutes into his speech, when he discussed his faith-based and community initiatives.

“The church should never be the state and the state should never be the church. No question about it,” he said.

But he seemed to contradict this statement when he said the government should give federal money to faith-based programs “that are helping to save people’s lives.”

After that remark, an unidentified man standing against a wall erupted and, with his hands cupped to the sides of his mouth, hurled insults at Bush, briefly disrupting the speech.

“Shame on you for using the name of God to kill,” the man said. “He’s (Bush) a liar.” The pickets outside carried signs saying that Bush was lying.

Despite the outburst and the resulting crowd fidgeting, Bush continued speaking about a proposed drug rehabilitation initiative, which would allocate $100 million to aid drug addicts. Security guards quickly escorted the man out of the ballroom.

After the event, Martin said he thought Bush skirted some questions, but felt the panelists brought to light issues that were not being discussed.

“We wanted to ask questions that aren’t being asked on the campaign trail,” Martin said. “We were able to follow up two or three times to get him to clarify.”

In a news conference about one hour later, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who had been in the audience, said the terrorist threat is real, but that Bush was misguided when he encouraged citizens to look skyward.

photo credit: Kimberly Whitfield Jesse Jackson tells reporters at Unity that President Bush had a warped perception of progress on affirmative action.

Jackson said the immediate threat was the AK-47s and the Uzis that police chiefs are seeking to legalize, not airplanes colliding into skyscrapers. A 10-year ban on assault weapons that also limits the number of bullets a magazine can hold to 10, passed by Congress in 1994, expires in September and prospects are slim for its renewal.

Jackson said Bush had dismissed critical concerns of the country and had a warped perception of progress on affirmative action.

“The issue is when you even the floor,” Jackson said, “not when you raise the bar. Real diversity is bottom up.”

He also said voting practices vary from state to state and that first-class machines should be mandatory. He added that because the states control voting procedures, there are “50 separate and unequal state elections.”

Jackson also cited figures showing how critical the minority vote was the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections and said disenfranchisement of minorities in Florida and other southern states guaranteed Bush’s victory in 2000.

“When we vote, it matters,” Jackson said. “It affects the texture of the country. The right to vote preserves all other rights in our democracy.”

Russell Nichols is a student at Florida A&M University.

Posted Aug. 7, 2004