Would you pay $1 for a cookie that someone of another race onlyhad to pay 35 cents for?
Most people probably wouldn't, and that's the point the CollegeRepublicans are trying to make.
The University of Memphis College Republicans are hosting a bakesale to show what they say is the reality of Affirmative Action incollege admissions and the business world. The UMCR will vary theprices of their baked goods based on customers' races.
"We believe that Affirmative Action is discrimination based onthe color of your skin, and any kind of discrimination is wrong,"said Andrew McGarity, UMCR president and Student GovernmentAssociation president elect.
"I feel that Affirmative Action was necessary at one time, butit is not necessary right now," said Candy Matthews, interim chairof UMCR. "It just seems to be unfair."
The UMCR will be in front of the University Center from 12:45 to2 p.m. Tuesday. The prices of the cookies will be, for example, $1for whites, 75 cents for Asian Americans, 35 cents for blacks, and20 cents for Hispanics, McGarity said.
The UMCR is not trying to raise money with the bake sale butrather awareness of the effects of Affirmative Action.
"We hope to bring the issue of Affirmative Action to everydayterms on a person to person basis," McGarity said.
The bake sale is being held now because the U.S. Supreme Courtis in the process of hearing a case from the University ofMichigan, which uses race as one determining factor in admissionpolicies.
As with many colleges across the country, The U of M studentbody has conflicting opinions on the issue. Last week, The DailyHelmsman reported the NAACP distributed flyers supportingAffirmative Action.
McGarity also said he spoke with minority students who feelAffirmative Action is insulting.
"They are insulted because it says to them, 'You aren't goodenough or able to make it on your own.' A black man can make it onhis own just like a white man," McGarity said.
Charlie Mason, the secretary of UMCR, is half Filipino. He saidhe agrees with McGarity in the belief that Affirmative Action isunfair.
"When it comes to Asians, we are a minority, but there aredifferent sections of minorities," Mason said. "They tend to getpenalized because they are such a large group."
According to McGarity, although the students in UMCR are opposedto Affirmative Action, they are not satisfied with the number ofminorities in higher education.
"We believe (Affirmative Action) is wrong, because it is basedon discrimination," McGarity said. "We support diversity of allkinds, especially in higher education."
There are no easy answers for fairness in admissions policies,McGarity said, but he thinks Affirmative Action is not thesolution.
"College admission should be based on academic achievement andlife experiences, not whether you are black, white or Hispanic," hesaid.
The solution, McGarity said, would be a race-neutral system.
"I think when it comes to admissions, it should be color blind,not based on race," Mason said.
