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Students Celebrate Victory for Affirmative Action

Aired June 23, 2003 - 15:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get reaction from students and faculty at the university of Michigan. CNN's Jeff Flock is in Ann Arbor.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the midst now of a rally being held by students in support of affirmative action, and although it was a split decision in some ways, it's being seen on this campus as a victory for affirmative action. Talking now to the people it most affects, students. You do see this as a win?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely. It's a great victory for affirmative action, for the country, for students all over the country. This is a great thing, that we can get more diversity within the university and in higher education and a better commitment to getting people in here.

FLOCK: Now, this young lady here, Native American Students Association?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

FLOCK: You are one of the three groups: Hispanics, African- Americans and you, who were the subject of the undergrad policy on affirmative action, yes?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

FLOCK: Although what the justices said was that the points system doesn't work. Are you worried about what will come in its place?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. Definitely not. The important part of this decision is that race can still be used in an admissions policy, and that's a victory for everybody.

FLOCK: Would you be here if it wasn't for the affirmative action policy?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The university doesn't have anything set aside, no quotas, and I'm definitely qualified to be at this University, if you look at my GPA.

FLOCK: But do you think you'd be here? Do you think somebody would have gotten here ahead of you? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

FLOCK: How the about yourself? Do you feel affirmative action is responsible for you being at this university?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably not directly responsible, but I'm sure indirectly it is responsible, you know. If the campus wants me to be here to diversify the campus then yes, I'm a part of it.

FLOCK: Is this campus diverse enough for you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely, I love the classroom environment, how diverse it is.

FLOCK: And what justices are saying that the point system doesn't work in the future, but somehow race can be used.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's a victory for us because race is an issue now, and I think that's a greater good for this campus, and higher education at large, that race is going to be an issue.

FLOCK: Folks, we appreciate it. Thanks for your time. Obviously some other students believing that race should not be a factor at all, a smaller percentage, though, I think it's fair to say on this campus. This rally that you're hearing here is probably more representative of the student body here at the university of Michigan.

That's the latest here from Ann Arbor. I'm Jeff Flock, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired June 23, 2003 - 15:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get reaction from students and faculty at the university of Michigan. CNN's Jeff Flock is in Ann Arbor.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the midst now of a rally being held by students in support of affirmative action, and although it was a split decision in some ways, it's being seen on this campus as a victory for affirmative action. Talking now to the people it most affects, students. You do see this as a win?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely. It's a great victory for affirmative action, for the country, for students all over the country. This is a great thing, that we can get more diversity within the university and in higher education and a better commitment to getting people in here.

FLOCK: Now, this young lady here, Native American Students Association?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

FLOCK: You are one of the three groups: Hispanics, African- Americans and you, who were the subject of the undergrad policy on affirmative action, yes?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

FLOCK: Although what the justices said was that the points system doesn't work. Are you worried about what will come in its place?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. Definitely not. The important part of this decision is that race can still be used in an admissions policy, and that's a victory for everybody.

FLOCK: Would you be here if it wasn't for the affirmative action policy?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The university doesn't have anything set aside, no quotas, and I'm definitely qualified to be at this University, if you look at my GPA.

FLOCK: But do you think you'd be here? Do you think somebody would have gotten here ahead of you? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

FLOCK: How the about yourself? Do you feel affirmative action is responsible for you being at this university?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably not directly responsible, but I'm sure indirectly it is responsible, you know. If the campus wants me to be here to diversify the campus then yes, I'm a part of it.

FLOCK: Is this campus diverse enough for you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely, I love the classroom environment, how diverse it is.

FLOCK: And what justices are saying that the point system doesn't work in the future, but somehow race can be used.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's a victory for us because race is an issue now, and I think that's a greater good for this campus, and higher education at large, that race is going to be an issue.

FLOCK: Folks, we appreciate it. Thanks for your time. Obviously some other students believing that race should not be a factor at all, a smaller percentage, though, I think it's fair to say on this campus. This rally that you're hearing here is probably more representative of the student body here at the university of Michigan.

That's the latest here from Ann Arbor. I'm Jeff Flock, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com