Conservative author, columnist and president of the Center for Equal Opportunity Linda Chavez spoke at the Wisconsin Union Theater Monday night as part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate's Distinguished Lecture Series.
\She brings a point of view that draws on freedom and commitment,"" said Donald Downs, UW-Madison professor of political science, during an introductory speech.
Despite a crowd of only a few dozen, Chavez was undeterred. ""Next time we'll have to stir up a little more controversy,"" joked Chavez, recalling a previous speech at which police protection was necessary.
Chavez's speech revolved around the policy of affirmative action and the flaws she feels have developed in it. Drawing on her past experiences, Chavez outlined how affirmative action has failed to be a successful long-term program and why its policies of nondiscrimination have actually exacerbated the situation.
""It was my tenure in teaching that helped change my views on affirmative action,"" Chavez said. ""That helping hand became a permanent crutch.""
Chavez brought up numerous examples to counter the idea of affirmative action, including a survey of universities in California following the repeal of the affirmative action-friendly Proposition 209. The survey showed that while enrollment of minorities such as the blacks and Hispanics had fallen in flagship schools such as University of California-Berkeley, other colleges around the state were showing a rise in minority enrollment and graduation.
She credited the repeal of nondiscrimination policies, saying they failed to increase ethnic diversity and wound up doing the opposite. ""Not only did diversity not enhance, but the policy actually increased racial disharmony,"" she said.
Chavez placed much of the blame on faults in early education, pointing out many black students who attend inner-city schools only graduate high school at an eighth grade reading level. To remedy this, Chavez insisted parents be given more choices in what school their child attends.
""If we want to do something about closing that skill gap, we need to address it at the elementary level,"" Chavez said.
While Chavez agreed some progress had been made against affirmative action, she admitted much work remains to be done. ""In 10 years, I may still be debating this issue,"" she said.
Chavez's speech was generally well received. ""She aptly dismantled the left's argument,"" said UW-Madison junior Marissa Courey. ""She was very knowledgeable, very clear and very direct.""
