Nineteen Democratic state legislators sent a letter to state Attorney General JB Van Hollen's office requesting a formal opinion regarding the Board of Regents unanimous vote to include race as a factor in UW System admissions last week.
State Rep. Tamara Brigsby, D-Milwaukee, said the letter is a response to a request from 18 Republican legislators asking the Van Hollen to formally oppose considering race in admissions decision.
Brigsby said, ""Our letter was a response saying you've heard from 18 legislators about why it is bad to consider race and here is another group of 19 legislators saying that there's nothing wrong with this policy.""
Democratic letter contributor state Rep. Joseph Parisi, D-Madison, said, ""It's important to take a number of factors into consideration when looking at an admissions policy. If we don't do that then we're narrowing the experience of the students who attend our university and narrowing the opportunities for everyone.""
""National corporations will not recruit campuses lacking a racially diverse student population,"" Parisi said.
In February, 18 Republican legislators sent a letter to Van Hollen arguing the policy violates both state statutes and the state constitution, said state Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford.
He added, ""I have strong objections to what I view as a race based admissions policy. I think it will end up hurting rural Wisconsin kids who are striving to get good grades and may be denied entrance to the UW because they don't have the right skin color.""
""Many of us suspected that UW Madison was using this policy, but they certainly didn't admit that until now,"" Suder said.
UW Board of Regents President David Walsh said the policy is a subjective analysis of a number of factors, with academic qualifications and tests being most important. Secondary factors include whether or not applicants are veterans, have work experience, community leadership and participated in extracurricular activities. Economic circumstances and race are also considered.
""This is a policy that we have had on the books for some time, and it has been practiced in Madison for some time,"" Walsh said. ""This was passed by the Regents in open meeting a number of years ago, it's not only public it's published.""
Van Hollen has declined to comment while this matter is under review.
""The state Attorney General is only able to offer an opinion saying whether or not this policy is constitutional,"" Brigsby said. ""He will review state statutes and offer his opinion on the matter. If the legislators opposing the policy decide to take legal action, Van Hollen's opinion could be used as support in court.""
